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.
I’ve been exposed to some bad human behaviour of late. Lies, disceptions, misdirections. I did not expect it, and was surprised by a certain turn of events. But now it’s time to turn the page, Seger-style. This week is the excitement of a 2 day despooking clinic and I just received the pre-read workbook. It seems like the course will be emphasizing a certain level of equitation skill through group drill exercises. Sounds like fun, and smart. First we develop basic control over pace and direction, then we add obstacles while actually focusing our attention on the group drill work. That should keep us distracted from the fire, smoke and sirens. Because, this is despooking, the mounted police way.
Wow! The last month was a doozy. Excessive work, sleeping only with the help of medication, the hamster constantly churning … Im not quite sure how I didnt get sick through it all. Today was my first day off in weeks and I was committed to spending time with my lovely Q. I pulled up, and while he was slow to recognize my engine sounds, he perked up fast enough and strolled to the fence line with his usual “where have you been?” face. He did quick work of shoving his buddies aside from the gate so he could get out and eat his first of many treats of the day: a fresh banana! Yumm! We then went to the indoor arena for perhaps a roll and a run/buck session. He was feeling a little shy to roll in my presence and he probably sensed my intentions of work and pace. So we attempted to run around the arena that is still (!) half flooded and muddy. Boy the arena riding boarders must be pissed (been going on for a month now). Q seemed a little lazy so we tacked up and headed to the outdoor ri...
Annual Trail Rides: 170/200 (Bareback 21/40) Our on-the-buckle trail lope is increasingly solid, which is a surprise to me because I never expected my pretty andalusian to be such a steady eddy when he grew up. My intention back when I started my search in 2015 was to just have a cool and spunky trail horse and I ended up with something completely different but also incredibly fun, and cool and spunky but in a different kind of way than what we horsepeople generally mean. Our tremendous mileage of 2021 has really highlighted the good, the great, and the incredibly annoying that is my wonderQ. This beautiful, friendly, generous and willing partner turns into a cantankerous pony when given the opportunity to eat (hello branch!) or stop on the trail to poop. He can be so obnoxious when given the chance. And then, when Im just thoroughly annoyed at his yanking me all over the trail, he gives me the most amazing lopes on the buckle with an easy glide from walk to canter and a steady pa...
My quest for a good enough bit is still ongoing. I had a great d-ring copper thin snaffle that worked great for 3 years from our early saddle starts to our summer trails of 2019. But then I noticed lip rubs this summer and realized that Q had outgrown his bit. I switched to a hackamore while his lips healed, and then I borrowed BOs eggbutt stainless steel snaffle in a slightly bigger style. Q was ok with it, but he had become quite mouthy, often fussing with it. My guess is that his small sensitive mouth does not handle this thickish snaffle very well. So then I borrowed a myler comfort snaffle. It was ok on trail, and ok in the arena. But he was still fussing when the contact started. And more importantly he stopped wanting to take the bit when I bridled him. Which was outrageous because Q has now learned how to bridle himself and will usually grab the bit on his own. Now, he was spitting it out. I took it as a sign. So we tried a smaller copper snaffle and Q liked th...
Im so proud of Q and I today! It was the culmination of many trails and arena sessions this summer working on our canter. I did declare back in June that this would be the Summer of Canter ( Whoa Whoa Dragon ), and today proved that we achieved that goal. The day started out with the alarm radio going off at 7 am, and the radio host announcing what marvellous weather we would have today. Almost summer weather with blue skies and temperatures near 20C. It was quite breezy, and warmer in the sun than the shade but it was definitely marvellous! I cleared my calendar, texted B to see if he was up for a trail, and promptly headed out for the one hour commute to the barn. I was feeling a little cranky when I got to the barn, but mostly because I didnt want my plans highjacked. I kept to myself, avoided the coffee clatch, tacked up quickly and headed out for my rendezvous with B. It takes about 10 minutes of trotting and loping to get to our meeting spot and by then I was in a great mood. Q h...
honestly, you make me want to move to Quebec!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLa belle province!
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