Solo trail on last day of “summer camp”
It was just gorgeous today with blue skies and a cool breeze. Temperatures were hovering in the low 20s and I had a trail plan to execute. I was hoping to top 20 kmh (fail), do my new favorite zig zag trail at a canter (fail), keep a zippy pace (success), and enjoy the fabulous weather (success).
I tacked up fast (7 minutes) and left before anyone could volunteer to tag along. I wanted to enjoy my last day of “summer camp” doing my ride, no compromises.
Q was soooo mellow. I was able to trot most of the way on the buckle, and even did my first canter on the buckle until I heard a voice up ahead shout a tentative “hello?”. I couldn’t see through the shadows but saw the two TBs walking towards me soon enough. A quick chat, and we were off again.
We walked down the ravines but trotted and cantered up all four of them. I did find Q was a bit tired on some of them, but he recovered really fast. I think he will be up for a quiet recovery trail tomorrow and maybe Ill even attempt a solo bareback trail ride.
The zig zag trail on the right that is part yellow / part red is the stretch I wanted to canter completely, but I chickened out because the trail was narrower and more twisty-turny than I gave it credit for. So it was down to a trot. I also realized our transitions to canter are slow, so when I only have a section I can do 5-6 strides on I miss the transition. Something to practice when I eventually make it back into the arena.
For sure Q was very happy with all the carrots and bananas we shared upon our return.
Next week its back-to-school and a reduction in barn time from 6x to 3x a week. Its sad, but Im pleased I took such advantage of this wonderful summer season. We galloped, did all five sections, rode with lots of different riders, barebacked, and logged hundreds of kms.
I tacked up fast (7 minutes) and left before anyone could volunteer to tag along. I wanted to enjoy my last day of “summer camp” doing my ride, no compromises.
Q was soooo mellow. I was able to trot most of the way on the buckle, and even did my first canter on the buckle until I heard a voice up ahead shout a tentative “hello?”. I couldn’t see through the shadows but saw the two TBs walking towards me soon enough. A quick chat, and we were off again.
We walked down the ravines but trotted and cantered up all four of them. I did find Q was a bit tired on some of them, but he recovered really fast. I think he will be up for a quiet recovery trail tomorrow and maybe Ill even attempt a solo bareback trail ride.
The zig zag trail on the right that is part yellow / part red is the stretch I wanted to canter completely, but I chickened out because the trail was narrower and more twisty-turny than I gave it credit for. So it was down to a trot. I also realized our transitions to canter are slow, so when I only have a section I can do 5-6 strides on I miss the transition. Something to practice when I eventually make it back into the arena.
For sure Q was very happy with all the carrots and bananas we shared upon our return.
Next week its back-to-school and a reduction in barn time from 6x to 3x a week. Its sad, but Im pleased I took such advantage of this wonderful summer season. We galloped, did all five sections, rode with lots of different riders, barebacked, and logged hundreds of kms.
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