planBE

We have been in Connecticut for four days and in that time I have eaten three whole lobsters plus oysters, clams and smoked salmon. We have had them steamed and roasted over an open pit fire. Our favorite place by far is Abbotts in the Rough. This BYOB gem is on the waterfront where we watch the sailboats go by as the sun sets. We have also logged some serious beach time in two different parks. On our comfy camp chairs, covered in SP50 and nozone shirts, with our cooler packed with ice, beer, cidre, and fresh cherries. The water was a bit chilly (but the Long Island Sound shallower waters makes it warmer than Maine or even New Jersey) but a blessing on these hot sunny days. A few more days here, with more lobster, oysters and beachtime in store. Then its up to Vermont for more of the same on Lake Champlain. Then its back to work and more horse adventures.

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 i...

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 ...

It was not the plan. I was supposed to go on a trail alone to get to section 1 and capture some media of our long sandy galloping tracks through the forest. It was a beautiful day with warm sunny weather and a gentle breeze. The bugs were out, but with my ultrashield fly spray and bonnet, Q and I were well covered. Our fearless leader asked if I wanted to tag along on a small group ride in the afternoon. A group of ladies I knew well and had great respect for their riding abilities. A group I could have fun with, go fast, and not have a single worry. I thanked her but declined, saying I was planning on a longer trail further out. As it was my first day of vacation, I was slow to get ready and just enjoying the slow roll. I took my time grooming Q, while he parked himself in the aisle "naked". Can you believe he is actually better behaved without restraints? Otherwise, he can get fidgety and paw. Finally I decided to join the group, postponing my solo adventure to ano...

There is a wonderful veterinarian-turned-acupuncturist that works in our area, and Q gets an exam and sometimes a treatment once every six months. With our latest saddle restuffing, I thought it was good timing to take a look. This lovely older gentleman has over 30 years of equine acupuncture practice (in addition to 20 years as an equine vet) and many a story to tell but the biggest stories come from his patients and his magic hands. While I have never tried acupuncture on myself, I have been successfully treated for many ailments with osteopathy and I believe in the body as a system that can often heal itself. So today was the day, and I watched him do several treatments before it was our turn. Q had no back pain or soreness, but his weakness in the left hind was flaring up and probably connected with the increased work on collection over the last few weeks. So, he got some needles and then I watched him slowly drift to sleep as he licked my arm slower and slower. After these ...

I was out on the trails snagging some media for my upcoming section posts and just wanted to share the joy of this summertime weather. It was sooo beautiful out today! I brought along a buddy, strapped on some water bottles, covered Q and I in bugspray (although some mosquito still bit me in the ear) and headed out for a 2 hour, 14 km trek in section 2. It was a big boggy in spots, but the temperature was ideal at 24 degrees celsius and very sunny with a slight breeze. Ideal riding weather. Q was in top shape, with plenty of gas in the tank at the end. He did a pretty big sidespook as we passed some neighbors playing with their scooters. He hadn’t seen them, nor had I. But he settled down immediately and I never picked up the reins from the buckle. Good boy! He is still a bit of an obnoxious turd when it comes to grabbing branches when he can, and Im diligent about curbing the behaviour. But sometimes those branches are so close its like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Section ...

I thought I would share some pics and video from our trail system that surrounds our barn. Known as one of the best places to ride in Eastern Canada with 300 square miles of trails in natural woodlands on protected, municipal and private land. Our surrounding land owners contribute to almost 60% of the trail network and we are forever grateful. Q wondering why we are stopping... In the winter time we share the trails with x-country skiers (they have their own trails that intersect ours) and skidoos, and atv bikes and joggers/hikers all year long. The motorized vehicules have their own trails, but they intersect ours. And of course on private land, we might encounter anything from atvs, fat bikes, dog sleds, etc. The network is split into five sections and Ive become familiar with all of them after riding on these trails for almost 30 years. Below is a picture of the trail map. Our barn is smack in the middle of section 2 and where I spend most of my time these days. Section 2 ...