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.
After a mostly sleepless night I headed to the barn for what I hoped would be a good ride on what was turning out to be a spectacular weather day. Temperatures had cooled to 24C with bright blue skies and a slightly damp track for some nice footing after all these days of rain. My hip was still hurting so I was going to take it easy, but I did want to work a good canter stretch with some lead switching in a particular spot. Q had other plans. At our first trot and canter he clearly told me that THIS.IS.NOT.FAST.ENOUGH ! Then he started his usual “dragon mode” of tight back, hard bouncing, head in the air and increasing his speed at every stride. Ouch, my back! I didn’t argue with him, but chuckled a bit at his antics. I used all that energy for good (as much as my back would allow) and worked on contact, leg yields, transitions and shoulder in. It was the best lateral work he has ever given me. But we have a date, in the arena, for lots of canter circles and then we will go back on the...
The weather has been spectacular here as I celebrate week #2 of my long vacation. Ive ramped up my long rides to 3.5 hrs and Q and I are feeling a little back sore tonight. But it was lovely, and these long rides get easier every time. I celebrated with a long session of grazing in the open field, getting a sunburn and eventually getting mugged by Q when I started eating my pumpkin seeds. I guess it sounded like grain? Im in the process of untethering myself professionally, as is my husband, which would allow us to work remotely several months of the year. It also means my work weeks will be even more flexible, affording me the opportunity for more travel, more life experiences, and more days where I can nap in the sun as I hear my horse munching on grass around my feet. Life is good.
Last day before our departure and I just had to spend it at the barn! 😃 Didnt have time for much but lost myself in Qs deep brown eyes while doing his stretches and then entered into the fairytale forest of the first winter snow with a horse that was feeling bright, forward and attentive to have just the most magnificent ride amidst the slowly falling snowflakes. Gave him his last brushing, last carrots, last kisses. Magical. Q will be busy while Im gone. He has 3 massages booked. and will be groomed/lunged twice a week, plus his daily turnout with his bestie Chester. The barn family will be sending me picture postcards throughout. When I travel for long periods, I leave a type of “power of attorney” with the barn owner so she may take all decisions on my behalf and I will cover all costs, including, if necessary, euthanasia. I do not want my horse to suffer a trauma while staff are trying to reach me, and there is no hope for repair. But I also don’t want them to hesitate to sen...
Its been a rough go these last few weeks between a significant increase in work, brutal cold snaps, icy trails and skating rink parking lots. Ive only ridden a handful of times on those rare occasions where the universe converged. This has made for a spicy pony and while it makes me more prudent on how I engage in speed when the brakes are fairly absent, it also makes me super appreciative that this spicy horse does keep his excitement under wraps most of the time. Clearly Q is fit and feeling good, and his daily turnout with bestie Chester is absolutely insufficient in expending energy. Especially since these two lazybouts just stand in a corner watching the world go by. We went out today after a little snow fell to cover our thick ice. Footing was good, and it was our first outing in over 10 days. The strategy is always the same: long steady trots for 5-10 mins until Q starts relaxing and blowing through his nose in loud bursts. During the first stretch we kept on trotting throu...
The biggest news is I have a new phone and there is a clear improvement in the quality of pictures. The other big news is that I thought I broke my pony. 😢 Our club has organized a month long derby, based on distance goals. The competition ranks riders inside a category and gives the top mileage a prize … and bragging rights. Bunnies were under 50km, gazelles were 51 to 250 km, and the warhorse was over 250 km. I immediately signed us up for the warhorse. And then I did our first ride trying to crack 20 km in 2.5 hrs. I was sore for a few days, and Q started acting funny. At first I thought it was the hackamore I was trying out. He was bolting for no reason while we would be trotting or cantering on trail. One day he bolted 5-6 times. 🤷♀️ Then I noticed his back was sore when I went to brush him. I took 10 days off riding, and walked the trails with him instead. I booked him a massage, and she confirmed what I was thinking. Q is sore on the left hind and in the left lumba...
honestly, you make me want to move to Quebec!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLa belle province!
ReplyDelete