This is where the magic happens on a regular basis. So many beautiful trails from wide and sandy, to narrow and winding. Plenty of spaces to trot and canter and five ravines with little creeks at the bottom where the horses can sometimes drink. 95% of my trails happen in this section.
It was a stinking hot day so I came prepared with water bottle.
Double wide trails with trees growing in the median.
Crazy as it seems, Im often alone on these trails rarely seeing another rider, jogger, or dogwalker. Occasionally we see foxes, deer, goshawks, wild turkeys, and owls. Some have also seen coyotes.
Some of the trails are narrow and windy, shaded from the sun.
Some of the trails are great for long canters or fast trots.
These trails are shared in the winter time with cross country skiers and snowshoers. Each sport has their own trail, and so the riders lose about 50% of the trails in section 2 from November to April. I dont mind, as it helps me better appreciate the trails when we get them back in the summer. The winter trails are groomed with machinery and are accessible all the time, even for my barefoot Q. We only stay in during the ice storms.
Our barn is smack in the middle of section 2 with the best trail access in the whole region. We always have tons of options for 20-30-40-90 minute trails that keep us close to home. So many loops, so many choices. The challenge of course is getting motivated to go on the trails that are further from home.
We arrived in Krakow on a super short commuter flight from Budapest and spent most of the weekend wandering about the charming town, constantly watching out for rogue trams that want to run us over. Our first afternoon was a delightful stop in the large market square to sit on a terrace, drink local beer, eat a lovely plate of cured sausages and meats with a kickass fresh horseradish purée, and watch the parade go by on National Constitution Day. Somehow, we often arrive in a new city on their national holiday. Krakow town square and basilica In the town square, m any fine carriages and horses are in line, with beautiful women in black hats with white ribbons driving the carriages. Its so unusual to see only women driving so many large carriages, that I took notice. At first, I thought it was because of the parade. Later that day, I watch the carriages circulating with passengers and the pretty lady is up front doing nothing while an old peasant dressed man is driving the carri...
After four days of despooking clinic and some reflection time, I want to share my broader perspective on what despooking can teach us. Only humans dwell - sometimes you just need to go with the flow. Horses have wonderful lessons to teach us in this regard. Their desire to be one with the herd, to establish hierarchy and rules, and to be in the present moment forces us to reconsider our thoughts and actions. Being such generous and forgiving souls, horses begin every moment as a new one. They dont dwell on past issues, they dont cry over lost relationships, they dont get angry over spilled milk. They lock in to their surroundings, feel their environment, find the path that leads to safety and grass. They are fluid. Let us learn to connect with the “herd”. Dont focus on the obstacle, focus on what you are doing. Obstacles are everywhere, physical and psychological. Some are created in our minds (“Im not good enough, Im not worthy, I cant do that”) and we fixate on them. We give ou...
Annual Trail Rides: 122/200 (Bareback 5/12) Bareback jiggerlady (finally sporting a helmet) came galloping up the side path of the ravine as I was climbing out of the ravine. Her horse spooked at me, my horse was startled and all I could hear was raucous laughter. When we arrived on the same trail she was two strides behind me so I suggested she pass me. She was flustered and unsure, saying her horse was competitive, as her pinto mare was jigging and jogging head up in the air. But she eventually passed me, and then took off at a trot, never a care or a worry about whether my horse would mind her sudden departure. Which he didn’t, but thanks for asking. 😁 Once she was 200 meters down the trail I just couldn’t help myself, and so I released the Q. Within seconds we were breathing down her ass. She made an abrupt turn on a side trail and disappeared. And I did a little giggle. My husband chastised me for my risky behaviour, saying I would have been at fault had an accident occurre...
Me: Can we walk please? Q: But you said “zoom zoom zoom”. After yesterday's ride, Q decided to show me just how much he had a need for speed. Our first day of summer and it was hot and sunny. I packed a water bottle and set out on the buckle. As soon as we hit the last ravine and got to the first long sandy track, he was all business. I spent the whole rest of trail either on the buckle or on the handbreak. Not much middle ground with Q today. The last ravine of Section 2 before we get to Section 1 Each of these ravines has a bubbling brook at the bottom, some of them the horses can drink in. This sandy track is the official beginning of Section 1, occasionally called The Arches for a large wooden arch that used to stretch across this trail at the top but has since crumbled to the ground. This fork is actually a great loop through the forest. I started trotting down the right, and then came galloping up the left 15 minutes later. Mostly ...
Some interesting developments on the despooking clinic. Full disclosure, I write this from the comfort of my sofa, with heating pad and anti-inflammatories. My back pain reared its ugly head this week and after three hours of riding and walking, I was d.o.n.e. Having done obstacle training before I had a certain approach down pat. Introduce obstacle from the ground, ensure the horse respects your space, and reward every try. But do not let the obstacle be ignored. This is not a negotiation. Eventually the confidence builds and each new obstacle becomes easier. But most new obstacles are introduced from the ground. Here, it was very different. First the context. A smallish arena (60x120ft) with the back door opened for auditors, housed under a temporary shelter with tarp cover. Hellish gusty wind blowing through the tarp. 11 horses and handlers, most of which were hot, reactive, and lacked training. All of the walls and corners had obstacles, tarps, mattresses, stuffed animals. Br...
honestly, you make me want to move to Quebec!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLa belle province!
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