Where have you been....or "Good, bad and forever good byes"

Sorry for the long absence!!  I partially blame AERC for not having ride results posted yet, and partially....well...life has gotten so freaking busy! 

I have a post in the works regarding River Run...and a post in the works for High Roller (spoiler alert, I went).

However....there's other stuff too...which won't be as time intensive, so I thought, in the interim while I wait for AERC, I'll drop this post.

Good news?
Strider has an appointment on February 3rd to have an ultrasound done on his left hind.  So, I can FINALLY know if he's ready to go back to work, or if he continues to need more time off work to finish the healing process (and perhaps a rough idea of how long it will take).  I've considered hopping up bareback so many times, or saddling up for a walk around the property, but the fact is, the last time I was on him bareback, he wanted to go so badly.  And, yes, he has the freedom to run and jump and act a fool on his own, but add a rider to the mix, and all of a sudden his balance changes.  So, I resist the urge and wait.  And I'm constantly touching that left hind and comparing it to the right.  Some days, I think I feel NO puffiness.  Other days, I'm positive I do.  So, now I'll know for SURE.

Medium news?
With that in mind, I've started legging up Socks, with an eye to a VERY slow 50 at Buffalo Run in April.  I've never done a ride out of state, but when J.L. (Cowboy and Jett's mommy) mentioned that it wasn't much further away than going to Racing Stripes in Mount Pleasant, and she could do more than stay and ride for one day, the decision was simple. 

Buffalo Run, here we come!!  Need to find out if it's also TERA sanctioned.  Hoping it is!

Right now, we're doing some lunging as I just don't have time to ride at night when we get home.  We started with 20 minutes of solid trot (and some canter) on the line, and we're now up to 25 minutes (and some canter).  I'll be taking him out for a road ride this weekend.

On the 15th, I took Tilly out for a road ride, which wasn't exactly the most pleasant.  We practiced wearing a rump rug.  We lunged with it covering her butt, and with it drawn up.  Then it was head out the gate, practice the "Come pick me up" cue and get in the saddle.  Then we fought about which direction to go.  Ultimately, I let her win because she was willing to go left out of our gate, but started getting downright dangerous when asked to go right out of our front gate.  If you'll move your feet, I'm semi-willing to allow you to pick our route.  So, we rode the entire length of the county road that parallels our property.  We had some spook moments.  Some freak moments.  But, her slow walk is about 4.5, and her medium, not even pushing hard at a gait speed is at 8.5.  Impressive.

However, I only got in about an hour and 10 minutes.  I wanted a little bit more time in the saddle, so Joe let us in the gate at the house and I went to ride around some more.  Yeah.  Not a bright idea, truth be told.  But only is obvious in retrospect.  The rest of the herd was loose, so as she and I went to the back pasture, they came thundering up behind her, which caused some tension and anxiety.  We fought for a bit, and I realized, she was just getting more and more worked up, and I would be better off to get off and work with her on the ground.

And that's when all hell broke loose.  The herd bolted off through the trees, and Tilly took off with them.  And she just kept accelerating.  No one rein stop (she's stiff as a board, and I forgot to work on flexing her before I got on, as Michael Gason teaches...I just spaced out).  And I realized, perhaps, for my own safety, it's just better to bail off a fleeing horse on semi-soft ground.

So I did.  Oh, I was cussing and swearing up a blue storm the entire time, but I bailed off.

There's a reason I now always wear a helmet.  I'm semi-sure I got a mild concussion as I don't remember getting up and walking to the house very clearly.  I don't remember when Kaylee joined me either, but she was there with me.

I dread to think about how bad it might have been had I NOT been wearing my helmet.

And, sadly, it was a brand new helmet.  So already, I need to replace it.  ANNOYING!!!  But, cheaper than an ER visit any day of the week!

After that ride, I realized our next session was perhaps better spent on a lunge line.  So, that next Sunday I worked her for 20 minutes.  Girl didn't even break a sweat, knew to conserve her energy, but, when working to the right, she could stretch out.  Gorgeous to watch.  Just gorgeous.

The bad news?
Sometime early Tuesday the 23rd, Tilly passed away. 
It was my worst nightmare made reality.  We were leaving for work and as we were going down the driveway, I saw her, and I knew, I KNEW the second our headlights hit her, she was gone.
Hysterical crying and sobbing ensued while Joe checked her.
But, she was gone.

Ground was undisturbed, and she was on her side, no trauma.  We opted to not do a necropsy on her.  Suspicion is an aneurysm.

Joe stayed home with me, and he was tasked with finding someone to come get her.  I couldn't remain calm enough to talk to anyone.

Thankfully, he found a very kind gentleman who was able to come and collect her.  I couldn't go outside either during the process.  But, he told Joe that the low fee he charges really only covers his costs.  He views this service as an act of love (he's a horseman himself), and he understands it's necessary.  He told Joe that she wouldn't be alone; she's going to a state approved facility where other equines are buried.  And, for whatever that was worth, it eased my pain a little.  The idea of a horse going to the dump (which is, sadly, where many end up), pains me.  And, while I didn't love her as I love any of my boys, I loved her still. 

Kaylee doesn't seem to understand where Tilly went, just that she's not coming back.  Sometimes she's at "Miss H's" (where Dakini is).  Sometimes she knows Tilly is in Heaven.  And last night, Tilly became a unicorn who lives in a rainbow.

Any which way, bless you Tilly.  They say you learn the most from the most challenging of horses.  You had more lessons to teach me, and I wish we'd had more time so I could have learned them, but, run free big girl. 

Tilly and I at Lake Sam Rayburn in November.

Socks, Strider and Tilly (right after her arrival at HGR).

Larger than life. And a unicorn to boot.

Endurance 2018....or "Plans? We don't need no stinking plans!...or do we?"

As I'm sure you can gather, this is a scheduled post.  I'll reveal the info about Sunday at River Run (did I or didn't I ride?  If I rode, who got to go out?!  I'm sure you're really just dying...LOL!).

Instead, as I sit in the quiet of my office before my shift begins, most of the people already out on holiday break, I got to reflecting on this past endurance year, and what my 2018 endurance year will look like.

Perhaps this is an early New Year's post.  Not sure. 

So, 2017 has been rough and fun as well!!

Let's take a look at our AERC break down and see, stats-wise, where we ended up this year.

Horses competed at endurance rides:
3 (Strider, Dakini, Socks)

Miles each horse got credit for:
Strider: 50 endurance / 60 LD
Dakini: 30 LD
Socks: 0

Miles rider got credit for:
50 endurance / 90 LD

Miles attempted: 100 endurance / 170 LD

So, as you can see, my stats this year....pretty bad.

Reasons for non-completion:

2 Lameness
2 Rider Option

Disappointingly, in September, Strider took a very bad tumble.  We were lunging on the line in the front yard.  It's flat.  There was nothing happening that was out of the ordinary.  He was cantering as he was acting like a fool, but not out of control, when all of a sudden, he stumbled and went crashing down on both front legs, his head making contact with the ground as he skidded a few feet.  When he regained his feet, he was non-weight bearing on his left hind (LH).

I managed to convince him to cross the yard where I cold hosed him, then gave him a small dose of bute and left him out.  The constant motion is good for him.

But, as time dragged on and on...he just...wasn't getting better.

Well, I THOUGHT he was better until I took him to my trimmer for a touch up trim before taking him to a clinic.  She saw immediately when I led him off and had him pivot left that he was BAD. 

So, since then, he's been off.  And his LH has been swollen.  It's FINALLY gone down, around the beginning of December, but...he's still not quite right.

I've had Jodi Brassard of Brassard Equine Acupressure (https://www.brassardequineacupressure.com/) come out now to start doing acupressure on him.  We started doing that in October, and he's now had 3 appointments. 

All of that to say this; I'm not sure where my 2018 ride season is going. 

Dakini was given back to H, who finds her a MARVELOUS fit for her bad back.  So, while I sure do miss that sweet face, I'm beyond pleased that she's able to help someone who has helped me so much.

Socks is Socks.  He is always game to try whatever I wish to try.  And he may occasionally get to go to easy LDs.

And now there's Tilly.  Tilly needs a conditioning program.  And to be ridden more.  Joe and I gauged the road we live on and determined that one route is better than another for me to road ride, so, that's the plan.  It's not a LONG stretch of road (less than 2 miles, unless I get adventurous and tack on some of the more "main" road), but it's got wide shoulders, not as "curvy" where drivers wouldn't see us, and the shoulder looks fairly flat, not INCREDIBLY rocky, but hopefully enough to help keep toughening up soles. 

Now, on my calendar, I've written down ALL the rides I'm currently HOPING that somehow I can attend.

That list includes:
High Roller at 7iL
Old Glory at Trace Trails
Shanghai Trails at the Shanghai Pierce Ranch (and I'm on the fence...there's so much bad juju..that I should go to get rid of that!)
Racing Stripes at the Priefert Ranch
Last Hoorah at the Six0 Ranch
Quitaque Climb at the Pole Canyon Ranch
Armadillo Run at the Davy Crockett National Forest (this one isn't posted yet, but it's an annual thing!)

One ride not listed is Heart of the Hills in Bandera.  I've yet to be able to have a horse with reliable foot protection to make that ride.  It's on my "to ride" list, but not this year again.

So, as I'm looking at that list...I'm trying to decide, which will I REALLY go to?  And which ones could I potentially have a horse ready for?

High Roller?  I could take Socks for an LD.  He's completed one there already with gas in the tank when he finished.  But, he'll need to wear bell boots, and there's a LOT of sand there, which could cause irritation and rubs.  BUT, I did buy 2 pair of bell boots, so I can change them out between loops.  Decisions, decisions....

I'll spill the beans about what, if anything, I'll be doing for High Roller later.

That brings me to Old Glory at Trace Trails.  Again, I can take Socks.  It's technical trail.  I went overtime there with Strider when we first started endurance.  So, my DREAM was to return there with Strider and defeat those trails.  However, unless something magical happens when Jodi touches him again in January, that's not going to happen.  So, take Socks again? 

Shanghai Trails next.  I could, in theory have Tilly legged up for a SLOW LD.  Or Strider might be just fine to go by this point, definately for an LD.  And, part of me thinks I need to just avoid this ride after all of the bad juju from last year.  And then part of me thinks I need to return to shake off that bad juju.  I'm really REALLY not sure what I will be doing about this ride.  And it may be that I won't decide until a few days before the ride.  We'll see.

Racing Stripes.  I've already promised my friend J.L. (Cowboy and Jett's mommy) that I would be there.  And I WILL be there.  Now, this ride is in April.  Assuming Strider has been given the green light in January (I'm also looking into doing an ultrasound and perhaps a lameness evaluation), I should have him legged back up again for an LD for sure.  Perhaps back in 50 fighting shape.  Well, SLOW 50 fighting shape.  This ride would be my pick of all the currently posted rides for Strider and I to aim for to try and get year 3 towards our Decade Team done.  ASSUMING he's okay.  And, if nothing else, perhaps by this point Tilly will be ready for back to back LDs.  Any which way, I may only be there and doing Intros, but I'm going.

Last Hoorah.  My favorite ride, but the ride that kicked MY ass last year.  I've yet to earn a completion at this ride.  Now I SWORE to the RM last year I was giving up the 50 mile division last year....and yet....and yet...I just can't seem to quit it.  IF Strider is ready and IF I have proper foot protection...we'll aim for a 50 again.  If we don't have foot protection and he still isn't ready...then LD it is.  And at that point, I'm not sure who would go.  If foot protection is covered, I'll take Tilly.  Or Socks with Hoof Armor (his feet are pretty tough). 

Quitaque Climb in October.  By this point, oh PLEASE Strider has to be better!!  We'll do a 50.  I'll take Tilly as well.  She'll certainly do an LD.  If I'm going to dream big, she'll also do a 50.

Armadillo Run.  This one would be about 2 weeks after Quitaque.  So who knows who I'll take or what distance I'll do.

Okay...so, realizing that this is the PLAN (as scattered and all over the place as it is), the odds are quite good I will have more not-ridden miles than ridden miles again this year.  I make plans, and invariably, something happens.  Such is the way of both horses and endurance.

But, for me, as each year goes by, my goals change a little bit.  I learn a little bit more.  And stretch myself to grow. 
Endurance 2018 holds wonderful things for me.  Once again I am riding with the Green Bean Team of "May the Horse Be With You".  I was invited to ride with the Texas Endurance Riders Association (TERA) team as well.  And now I get to bring Tilly along to start learning endurance!  And I'll re-start Strider.  So two, potentially 3 horses to fit up to go play with me!!  Looks like the name of the game is "Ride one/Pony one" this year!

Endurance 2018, I'm not sure what lessons you have in store for me this year.  But, as long as you leave me with healthy horses, I'll take whatever lessons it is you want to give to me.

Day 4, Let's Go Camping!!....or "Time to Pack It In"

Another semi-early morning.  As an endurance rider, I could get used to getting UP at 6, slowly feeding and taking time to get moving. 

Nahhhh.  LOL!!!

So, another campfire morning as we slowly ate breakfast and talked about having to break camp and head for home. 

Oh, we knew we were doing a final ride before going home.  The injured horses were all just fine, and no one wanted to do a fast trail ride anyway!  So, once again, slowly get the horses dressed.

Yes, not exactly the most flattering picture.  Tilly Pilly all dressed.

So, we all mount up and head out for our final ride.  It was some of the same trail from the day before, but in reverse.  H had some time constraints, but, after discussing it some, she figured she was still fine if we rode a little bit longer.

We took a suggestion from L and G who know the trails better than us, and took off in a different direction.  The dogs were quite happy to go charging off into the underbrush, making a ruckus.  But they were quite happy.

I made sure to take it easy on Tilly and I wouldn't allow her to gait.  I wanted her to stay at a walk and not push herself.  Rationally, I understand she's just fine, but emotionally, there's no need to push her.  Especially with a long trailer ride coming up! 

We're on a nice stretch of trail, and I can hear the dogs off behind us and to my left.  The come bounding out and Tilly squirts forward on me, very VERY unhappy.  And, all I can assume is that the dogs got a little TOO close for comfort and she fired off a shot with a rear foot.

And caught poor Kita in the face.  We all heard the yelp.

I cannot convey how badly I felt as B went back to check on her dog.  Poor Kita was so baffled that she ran from B.  FINALLY she was able to catch Kita, and rinsed her mouth out.  And told us that Kita lost a tooth.

I felt even WORSE at that point. 

B and LM kept saying not to worry.  They weren't mad.  But I still feel awful, you know?  I get it, horses are horses and dogs are dogs, but I still feel bad poor Kita got hurt.  So, that kind of soured the ride for me.

Add on to that, that Tilly started acting like an absolute heinous witch.  Wouldn't mind.  Wouldn't stop and stand still.  Ripping my arms off.  If she wasn't recovering I would have worked her butt.  The overall belief is she was coming in to heat.  Hussy.  Made me miss Dakini who never acted up in heat or not.  LOL!!

Final ride!

Anyway, we make it back to camp and start breaking things down.  H quickly pulls out as she's now running late.

We take a look at B and LM's trailer and one of their tires is basically flat.  On a Sunday, who's going to work on a trailer tire?

Apparently WalMart.  It just needed a new valve stem.  So, I opt to hang out with G and L.

And while we're hanging out, I hear some of the other campers hollaring back and forth "Do you have banamine?" and "I don't think it's colic, but he keeps laying down."

I sigh heavily...not another one?  And somehow end up involved.

Horse hadn't eaten, but the owner didn't think it was a colic because they could hear gut noises.

"Did you hear gut noises in all 4 quadrants?  Is the horse drinking?  How are his gums?  Hydration?"

*blank stares*

So, I ask if I can go in the pen, and, this horse's gums are tacky, he's dehydrated and he keeps going sternal. 

Now, thankfully they warned me before I went and put my hands in his mouth as he's missing most of his teeth.  "He's a cribber." 

I ask L to come check all the quadrents of his guts.

"Sounds like a waterfall on one side, but nothing, or very faint on the other side."

I turn to them and say "It's colic.  Let me get the number for the emergency vet, call him out.  But keep this horse on his feet and hand walk him and graze him."

They keep insisting it isn't colic.  At that point, I get them the number...had asked L if she felt comfy giving banamine, she said she wasn't (later on reflection, makes sense...she didn't want the liability...she's totally right).

Vet shows up, and for the first time ever, I get to watch being a horse tubed.

Because, what do you know?  The horse was colicing.  *sigh*

However, I now know that HYPERACTIVE guts are not good either.  This is also a colic. 

Suffice to say, I was over this whole weekend.  Too many colics.  Too many accidents. 

So, once B and LM got back, they got the tire on their trailer, and we all packed it in.

And, after briefly chasing Rango through camp one more time....we load up and hit the road once more.

He really is a great travelling companion!!

You'd think by this point my emergencies would be over, right?

HAH!!  NOPE!!

I cruise through some towns on the way home, just listening to my podcast, enjoying the scenery.  I glance at my fuel gauge, but, at a quarter tank, opt to keep going.  The prices were stupidly high for diesel, so SURELY I'll find something else in the next town!

Keep on driving.  Lots and lots of hills.

Truck warns me I have 50 miles to empty.

"Oh, I'll just pull over at the next station I see!  No big deal!  I'm fine."

*narrator's voice*
"She was NOT fine and it WAS a big deal."

I kept watching those miles vanish.  And knowing it wasn't accurate because I'm hauling a trailer.

At 25 miles, I start to flail a little.  But, there's a sign that says only 10 miles to the next town.  I PROMISE I'll stop at any gas station there.

Except this "town" was a bump in the road.  WITHOUT A GAS STATION!!!


10 miles left in my tank.  I'm sweating.  ANY gas station will do!!  ANYTHING!!!

5 miles.  Still nothing.

I hit zero and pull over into a small, CLOSED AND ABANDONED gas station and shut off the truck.  I'm shaking.  I have ZERO cell service.  It's starting to get dark.  I weigh my options.

I could pull Tilly and ride to a gas station.  Not sure how I'll juggle the reins and a gas tank.  What about Rango?

Where am I?  I can't call for help.  Will anyone stop for me? 

I finally opt to start the truck up again and drive.  NOT my smartest move, but it was starting to get dark. 

We're still doing hills though.  My stomach is in a knot as we keep going.

I shut off EVERYTHING and talk to Hannibal the entire time.

And we come into a town!!  I KNOW WHERE I AM!!!  There's a gas station just 2 or 3 more miles.  My truck starts to hitch occasionally and I start to panic.

I beg and plead with him "PLEASE Hannibal!!  PLEASE!!  I know it's there!  COME ON BUDDY!!!"

And we make it in.  I pull up to a gas tank and shut him off and almost cry in relief.

Until I realize the tank is on the OTHER SIDE OF THE TRUCK!!!  And, of course, the hose won't reach.

And the other side's two pumps are being tied up....but people filling up with plain gas.  Because there weren't OTHER OPEN PUMPS to use!!!  FYI-This is a pet peeve of mine.  If you drive a gas vehicle and there are GAS PUMPS open, please, for the love, go fill up at one of those.  PLEASE!!!

So, I crank Hannibal up one more time, shaking.  It's a tight and busy parking lot.  I can't exactly whip it around.  So, I have to pull between some cars and attempt to back my rig without taking out a fuel pump.  I'm shivering because my truck is chugging.  And I manage to get behind the small truck pulling a UHaul trailer and wait.  Because I can't get through to the other tank.  And he takes his time.  He can TELL I'm impatient, but he just crawls into his car and stares at me in his rearview.  At that point, I start flailing my arms and cussing "MOVE IT!!  MOVE IT!!!!  COME ON!!!!"


And FINALLY he does.  And I lurch through and shut Hannibal off.  I almost weep with joy that he did it.

He gets a very full tank, before I hop back in and hit the road, thinking this is the end of the disasters.


*narrator's voice*
"It was."

I drive through sporadic rain and swing by my parent's house to get Kaylee.  And then head for home.

Joe is waiting and opens the gate, helps me unhook and let Tilly out.

Suffice to say, TOOOOO much excitement for one camping trip.

I am hoping that I never go through that much "adventure" ever again.

Day 3, Let's Go Camping!!....or "Can't we catch a break?!"

So, let me see here...where was I?

Oh yes.  Tilly.  Busted lip.  Stitches.  AJ, who had colic'd.  Okay then.

So, I had blanketed Tilly overnight as she was coming off her drugs, and was shivering some.  It was a thin sheet, no fill to it.  Just enough to provide some warmth from her own body heat. 

Once again, we all get up in the morning, and LM knows she's not riding AJ in the morning.  She mentioned she was going to just hang around camp, clean pens and relax and read.

I go and take the blanket off Tilly and start grooming her in the pen she's in.  I get one side done, then walk around to the other side....and notice immediately how tight she is near her belly.

"Hey B, can you come look at Tilly?  I think she's colicing."

The general consensus was yes, a very mild colic, but a colic nonetheless.  THANKFULLY we had the syringe of banamine for AJ, which Tilly got instead.

So, while B and H and L and her husband G all went riding, LM and I stayed back at camp, cleaned pens, and just relaxed and chit chatted.  It was really pleasant. We chatted about horses.  Enjoyed the dogs.  It wasn't too long before B and H came back (G and L opted to stay out for a long ride that day).  All the horses were fine, and we decided we'd take AJ and Tilly out for a very VERY easy evening ride.  And, we decided to try Rango out as a trail dog, paired up with B's dog Kita.

Long, leisurely lunch while the evening's dinner cooked in the crockpot in the trailer (smelled DELICIOUS!!!).  Sitting around the fire just chatting horses and about life in general with good friends...those things were wonderful about this trip.

Eventually we decided we would go ahead and start tacking up.

I decided I'd tack Tilly up at MY trailer this time though.  No point in tempting fate, right?

A very gentle ride!!

We had such a great time!  We took it nice and easy, and the dogs did GREAT!!!  Rango strayed some, but always seemed to keep an eye on the horses and came when we wanted him to.  It probably helped that he had Kita to make SURE he didn't stray too far as she was now part of his "pack"

Tilly behaved nicely, didn't seem to be hurting, and was happy to move. 

We opted to circle back though for dinner and more time around the fire.  And to start thinking about ending our camping trip the next day. 

Day 2, Let's Go Camping!!....or "Here's where the wheels starting falling off...."

After having been reminded REPEATEDLY before bed the previous night that, no, tomorrow was NOT 'endurance hours' (get up early, get saddled up and get moving), we slowly and leisurely got moving in the morning.  

Oh, we still got up early.  But we sat around the campfire, they drank coffee (horror of horrors, I don't like coffee), we slowly ate breakfast, chit chatted, let the dogs romp and play and basically.

Now, I had re-rigged my saddle the previous evening as well.  I'd removed the latigos and put on center fire English converters that Trail Blazers Tack had made for me (in purple, natch).  I also removed the fenders and put on biothane webbers (also purple [natch]).  My stirrups are western, but Janet included a keeper that holds them fairly securely.  So, I figured I'd give it a whirl and if I didn't like them, or the stirrups slid to much, I'd put the fenders back on.  No big deal.

I borrowed B's Total Saddle Fit girth and the cover again (bless friends who loan and give away tack to try out!) and put it on Tilly.

Now, the English converters didn't have enough holes, but it seemed tight enough, so, we all slowly got saddled up and for the first time, I got to go experience the Angelina forest at Lake Sam Rayburn.

Our motley crew leaving camp.

Yes, two big butts; hers and mine! 

Heading out of camp down one of the roads.

And after a semi-short seeming ride, THE LAKE!!!

Tilly was a VERY good girl about putting her feet in the water.

B and Little Momma on Gatlin and AJ respectively.

Now, at some point during the ride, someone looked over and said "There is like an INCH between Tilly and your girth!!"  Yeah, not tight enough.  And I already had it on the last holes.  Not a problem, I'll just stay balanced, right?  I mean, she's wearing a breastcollar, so the saddle won't slide off her butt, and if I get off the great big behemoth, I might not be able to get back on.  Best to stay where we're at.

Tilly ears.

Yes, it really is that wooded!!

Tilly has some issues with other horses.  Like whipping around and trying to bite their faces off, so she had to stay away from the group many times.  That's just entirely UNACCEPTABLE behavior!!  So, I parked her at the back of the group and that's where she had to stay.  We need to do more group rides, but I wasn't in the mood to dink with a naughty horse with such a loose girth.

She was happy to go, but a little sweaty.  Not labored.

We all kind of tooled around, played in the water, went back in the woods.  We wound around until we came back out by the water, and, it was deceptively wet, so the horses started sinking.  All I could picture was pulled tendons and lamness issues, so we all quickly attempted to find a way out of the bog.

Straight UP over a log and a hill was our route out.  Everyone asked if I was okay going with my girth, and I was like "Yes, let's get out of here before our horses get hurt.  I'll grab mane and go.  But let's get out of here."

So, we did just that.  Tilly was a champ about it.  Saddle stayed put, didn't slip, didn't move. 

We opted to head back to camp, break for lunch and then go back out later.

Well, that was the plan.

We're sitting at our camp, tack off, when we notice that B's mom's horse is laying down in his pen.  Now, he could have been napping.  And we thought so for a while.  But we got him up after a little bit.  Then he opted to lay down again.

No.  Not okay.  We scrambled to find a nearby vet, and I told B and LM to use my rig since I was still hooked up to the truck and have the smallest trailer and for them to get going.  AJ loaded right up and off they went.

H and I hung out, chit chatted and napped while we waited for news.

Finally they got back.  Yes, mild colic.  He got tubed and oiled and sent home with a syringe of banamine.  So, LM said she was going to stay back at camp, clean pens, but we should all go tack up and go ride that evening. 

So, that's what we started doing.

As my saddle and gear was over near by B's trailer, I took Tilly over there, tied her off and started tacking up.

And no one knows EXACTLY what happened, but as I went to put my saddle up on her, she blew up.  Rearing straight up and she came down hard and hit the trailer.  Just lost her damn mind.

When it was all said and done, she had split her lip.

*sigh*

LM called the vet and said we were racing in with another one.  Now, at this point, it was about 4 pm.  At 5 pm, the clinic is closed except for emergencies, which is a $150 fee to start before anything else.

To say that B drove like a madwoman to get us there is an understatement.  I didn't want to get lost, and I was feeling rattled. 

But, B did it.  Got us there with 5 minutes to spare!!

As I didn't know what her vaccination status was, we went ahead and did our tetanus, as well as the others (minus rabies).  She got 7 stitches in her lip and then we were sent on our way home with a very drunk horse.  And a $400 vet bill.  *sigh*

I would have taken pictures, but, I was a little traumatized at the moment (I mean, let's be real!  Strider, hurt his left rear under my watch.  Socks, jacked up his heels at Armadillo under my watch.  And now Joe's horse, hurt under my watch!!!!).

We got her back in the trailer and headed back to camp. 

She was a little sweaty, so I opted to toss a light sheet on her as the evenings were cool, and then all of us headed over to L and G's trailer for a delicious dinner and casual chit chat.  B and LM headed in to town for more ice after dinner.

We stayed up late talking around L and G's fire as it burned down.  From good horses to bad ones, gaits and bits and saddles to "Nutscaping" (do NOT look that up at work...actually, you can skip it entirely...it's potentially offensive if you're not into weirdness) to religion...just the type of conversations that happen organically when you're with friends who you have no filter with.

Day 1, Let's Go Camping!!!.....or "Good day followed by not so good...."

I'm still mentally and emotionally recovering from what was, overall, a semi-disastrous camping trip.  It's been proclaimed that we need a "do over" trip, and that if we NEVER have another trip like this one, it will be FAR too soon.

So, rewind to Thursday morning.

The plan?

Get up early, load up the truck with the last few things, hook up the truck and trailer, catch the horses, get Kaylee up and dressed, load Tilly then leave and drop Kaylee off at daycare and hit the road around 7ish.

HAH!!  What a joke.  NOTHING went even REMOTELY close to plan.

The reality.

Wake up, start getting dressed, when a small, sleepy faced toddler comes walking into the bedroom. 

"I awake Mommy."

"I see that honey."

And I pitch all of my plans and do the best I can.  Get her dressed and ready for school.  Realize I cannot expect her to be calm and patient while I hook up and catch horses, so just go ahead and drive her to school, come home and finish loading up the truck with everything I MIGHT possibly need (spoiler: I didn't need ANY of the extra blankets I brought...or the portable heater...or the extension cord).

Go ahead and get Rango in the truck (he doesn't QUITE understand what I'm asking for initially so I had to pick him up and put him in).  The look of indignation Pancho gave me when he was put back in the house was funny, and a little heart breaking.  SORRY SMALL DOG!!  Maybe some other time!

Hooked up the truck quickly and then had the unpleasant task of trying to catch the horses.  This is becoming my LEAST favorite part of dealing with Tilly.  It IS on the "To Do" list, but...the time change has my life boogered up.

I get Socks caught after running a merry chase from the back pasture to the front.  He gets put in the barn as I have a mild anxiety attack about him getting hurt again, but realize I don't have another option.  Realize that the other 3 have run BACK into the back pasture, so grab the keys to the ATV and away we go, because I can NOT catch them on foot, and they're all being hellacious turds.

Drive back, walk over to see if I can catch Strider, but he's got a bee up his bonnet, and refuses.  With a huff of annoyance, I go back to the ATV and push them out of the back pasture, and shut the gate.  And away we go as they charge up to the barn.  We end up whirling around and around in the front as Socks casually nibbles the handful of grain I gave him, the other 3 flying and running.  I wince every time Strider does a pivot on that left rear, but, they all realize this isn't fun, so they go to the barn and stop.  I go and open the gate to the other feeding pen and all 3 march in.

My mind flips out thinking of all the possible disasters.  I walk in and tell Strider to NOT kick me.  And give him the "mare glare". Slip the halter on Tilly and march her over to the trailer where she just walks right on in.  She's almost on the brink of self-loading, but, that isn't a requirement of mine.  An easy load is really all I want.  And currently, all of mine are.

Anyway, I leave everyone in the pens as I drive out the front gate, and then let them all loose.  Where they all go charging off.  Realize I forgot to open the back gate, but send Joe a text to tell him it's closed.

Look over at my traveling companion and tell him "Let's go buddy!!"

I skeered Momma.  Where we go?

So, locked, loaded and away we roll.

He figured it out quickly.  And this is how he stayed for the bulk of the trip.  GREAT traveling companion.

Of course, as soon a I get in, I realize I hadn't stopped for gas, and Joe left me a 1/4 tank.  That's not going to be enough to make a 5 hour haul!!!

So, whip in to my favorite local gas station.

And take some photos of my other traveling companion.

Look at this big ass mare!!!

Hello Tilly Pilly!!  You have your happy ears on!!!

What, don't like selfies with me?  I think my feelings are hurt.

I call this one "Resting Bitch Mareface". 

For whatever reason, the gas station was having serious issues with the gas pump.  An error message when I pulled up.  So I went in, and they told me they'd reset the pump and go outside and pump.

Okay.  So, I tried that.  Didn't work.  Go BACK in and leave my card.

And then SLOWLLLLLLLLY pumped diesel into the truck.  The guy next to me said "It's a good thing no one's in a rush.  This is going to take a while."  All in all, took me probably 15 minutes to fill the truck up.  I wasn't impressed.  I've noticed these tanks usually are a little slower, but this was ridiculous!

But, in about 2 hours, I caught up with H at a TSC in some small town.  We picked up a few things, and then hit the road again.  3 more hours to go.  She falls in behind me and we make our way to Lake Sam Rayburn.

We stop at the gas station I always stop at on my way to Armadillo Run.  We let the dogs out for a second potty break, then I ran in to go potty after filling Hannibal up again. 

Rango also makes a great "truck guard dog".  My friend H came out of the store and said "You know, he LOOKS really intimidating.  NO ONE is going to mess with your rig when he's in the truck."

Good thing no one knows that even if he's barking at you, he's probably shivering in fear.  Goof.

But, we get pulled in after one missed turn (took us down some road that did NOT lead to the campground....and cell reception was bad), but I managed to get enough signal to get us to where we needed to go.

Pull in and get settled in quickly.  I let Rango out of the truck and away he runs. 

"Dammit, I think I've just lost my dog."

No, he quickly figured out where "home" was for the weekend.  Our camp. 

Get Tilly set up with water and hay, some electrolytes.  Took a look at her feet and figured since I still had sun, I'd better trim and rasp her feet.  So, I got to work on that.  Butchered them SOME, in my opinion, but they looked better than before.

Once I was done with that, we all just sat around and relaxed for a while.

As the sun sets, B, LM, H and I head in to town for groceries and dinner.  We put Rango in the back of B's LQ and head out.  Lots of laughs and fun and plans for a wonderful fire when we get back to camp.  Junk food load up and late night talking. 

I did rig Tilly up with lights though.  Glowstick on the halter and the flashy bands around her rear pasterns.  I know those pens are solid, but....just in case...(spoiler alert; never necessary, but...I don't regret it!).

I was reminded MULTIPLE times we were sleeping in, NOT rushing to get tacked up in the morning, and that we were going to take a slow, easy pace.

"Plebs...GET UP EARLY AND LETS GO RIDING!!!!"

No.  The answer was a resounding no. 

So, I spent the rest of the evening removing the fenders from my saddle and removing the latigos to put the English converter set on my saddle.  And then begged B to borrow her "Total Saddle Fit" girth for Tilly.  Which worked like a CHARM all weekend long!!!  I love this girth.  I WILL need to get the fleece cover for it as well, because Tilly is prone to galls, but we had used a wool one for the scavenger hunt, and I liked how far back it sat that day, and this one was the same length and worked WONDERFULLY.

But more about that for Day 2.

Equine Trail Sports....or "Well, that was fun, but my horse is STILL broken!"

I COMPLETELY FORGOT TO MENTION THIS!!!

So, at the place I used to board the horses at (Rusty's Walnut Creek [hey, I don't board there now, and since I know my ex still stalks my stuff, I always tried not to mention it by name ANYWHERE {yes, he's THAT creepy}]) hosted another Equine Trail Sports challenge the last weekend, and, while Joe and I both had things to do on Saturday, I kind of whined and got him to sign up to do the ETS on Sunday.

Originally we were going to be companion only riders (which means we weren't going to do ANY of the obstacles), but, they begged and said we should go try and if we just HATED the obstacles, they wouldn't charge us the fee, so, we decided to go.

Now, Strider was CONFUSED.  So, we're at Rusty's, his "home".  There's trailers!  And LOTS OF HORSES!!  IS RACE DAY MOMMA?!!!!  WE GO FAST!!!

No.  No dude. 

My friend H got us this saddle pad at the Bluebonnet Horse Expo, so I HAD to use it!!
People should KNOW that they're in the presence of the Paso Fino!  LOL!!!

Almost fully dressed with our number! 

I told Joe I was going to walk only Strider, and I did, with the exception of ONE obstacle and when he BEGGED me to go for a little bit.

I rode him in the Myler Kimberwicke, which is what Douglas had used on him when training.  Strider wasn't exactly HAPPY in his bit, but it DOES help him refine his moves.  And he tried his heart out for me.

The first obstacle we had to take them into the round pen, step in a square box and you had to have their head naked and bridle them.  Joe and I both opted to do it without a halter around their necks.  Of COURSE both of our horses walked out of the box.  LOL!!!

Our group, consisting of 2 other endurance riders, Joe and one of my friends in the Central Texas Lady Trail Riders group (who is on her amazing horse Kansas!!) mounted and set off. 

Obstacle two was to turn on the forehand down an invisible fence.  Strider and I bombed this one.

This video is obstacle 3.  Move from cone 1 to 2, line up on the cone, back up, move off back to the cone, line up, back again, and then move off the obstacle.

You can tell in this video that he's off.  I wasn't completely sure, but fairly sure he wasn't QUITE right.

Obstacle 4 was to touch a big piece of plastic on the fence with monsters on it. 

We actually did obstacles 5 and 6 out of order. 

So, we did 6 before 5; which was get a bucket of candy off a peg in a tree, move through cones and hang the bucket back up on the tree.

Obstacle 6 was to side pass obstacles going down the trail.

I was actually very pleased with him ALL day (except for the lameness that was intermittent).

Here are our scores.

Strider and I got a shout out for the obstacle with the candy bucket.  And our reward?

Look!  You CAN make money with horses!!!

Now, let me talk about Joe and Tilly.  Joe was COMPLETELY game to try things that he had NO idea what to do, how to cue Tilly or ANYTHING!!  He was so calm and patient with her ALL day long.  The only time he "got after" her was at the tarp on the fence because she would NOT go near it when he asked.  However, once we finished that obstacle, he DID make her touch it with her nose.

We did tell the judges that this was only the second time he had ridden her, and that he really wasn't sure how to cue some of these things.  The judge at the obstacle you were supposed to side pass on said "That's fantastic!  It leaves them a LOT of room to grow!  Good for him to coming out and riding today!"

Here are their scores.

Overall, I enjoyed our ETS ride (minus my hurt horse).  There ARE people who you can tell are there to win and are competitive, but the overall atmosphere felt very laid back and casual, and no one said anything negative about the endurance riders.  Everyone was very supportive, and the judges were FANTASTIC about explaining what the obstacle was, and what they were even looking for.

My endurance friend (TM) taking an over the shoulder shot of Joe and Tilly. 
That's Strider and I and TC and her horse Kansas behind them.

All of our group (except TM, the photographer!) after we finished obstacle one!!

I would recommend an ETS ride to anyone who has never done one!!!

Scavenger Hunt...or "Chantilly Lace...and a pretty face"

Sunday Joe was going to come to a scavenger hunt held at a church about an hour from the house.  There was going to be a small group of my friends coming...except as we got closer and closer, people kept dropping like flies until it was just B and myself coming.  Joe opted to skip out and stay home with Kaylee since B's husband wasn't going and he didn't want to be the only guy there.

Not a problem.  So, B and I arranged to meet there at around 11.  I was up at 8, hooked the truck and trailer up, AND I actually managed to catch Tilly far quicker than normal, AND get her loaded in about 2 minutes.  Takes a few minutes to get the divider swung over, long rope fed through the window and encourage her in. 

So, I was on the road before 9.  And realized from the gas station I stopped at to fill the truck up, I was 23 minutes away from the church. 

Well then, time for breakfast!!  Hit up a McDonald's in Copperas Cove, killed about an hour there and then headed off for the church.

This is one of the RARE instances where I didn't blow a SINGLE turn.  GO ME!!!

Got there a few minutes before B, while we discussed ditching the scavenger hunt (I saw 1 trailer with horses in and 1 Gator).  We unloaded Tilly and Baby G while we debated what we wanted to do. We finally opted to go ahead and do the scavenger hunt as we walked behind the arena at the church and saw more horses.

So, loaded the horses BACK up (Tilly bravely marched right into the trailer by following me in!....with the divider moved over) and drove back behind the church.

Where we sit and chit chatted and just had a good time hanging out while waiting for the scavenger hunt.

Baby G on the right, Tilly on the left.  Two MFTs just hanging out!!!

B's horse Baby G begging for more Nutter Butters.

The hunt actually ended up starting at 1 instead of noon.  And the rules were that we were hunting for man-made objects ANYWHERE within fencelines and without crossing beneath large power lines or cattle guards.  And we had 2 hours to find as many objects as we could find.

Here's some of the things we found out there on our aimless meanderings.

What no one mentioned until we were already present and saw for ourselves was just how ROCKY it was.  Oh, there were some patches of soft, grassy dirt, but mostly it was rock, rock and MORE rock.  Tilly doesn't have boots yet, but after this ride, she's moved up on my priority list to get her a pair of at LEAST front boots.  She was quite brave and bold and forward when she led, but after about an hour, she was asking me to PLEASE get off the rocks, so B and I quit after an hour and 15 minutes.  We're going camping this weekend and we didn't want to lame our horses.  So, we headed back to the trailers.

Sweaty, dirty, hairy horse-yak.

 

Other side of a big booty horse-yak!!!

B and I only ultimately found 8 items, so we each won a $5 gift card to Tractor Supply.  So, yay!!  We talked about trying to grab lunch, but...between trying to find a place that we could maneuver the trailers in to, and Joe needing to get to work, we rain checked and said next time.  PLUS, we're going CAMPING THIS WEEKEND!!! 

Scavenger Hunt

So, once again, Tilly hopped into the trailer and we headed for home. 

I decided there were 2 things I wanted to do with her before I cut her loose at the house.  Practice trailer loading AND at least rinse her off.

And that is exactly what happened when I got home.  I pulled the trailer through, off-loaded her and left the divider in place.  Then asked her to load up.  Which she did.  And off.  And on.

All in all, I got her in 6 times.  5 of them with the 30' long line through the window, and the final one, I walked her completely away from the trailer, gently lunged her around me away from the trailer, then walked her confidently up to the trailer standing beside her with one of the trailer doors closed, divider still in place, and she hopped right on in as I pointed her where I wanted her.

SMART mare!!!

Took her over to the small stand of trees by my barn, easily tied her up and hosed her off.  She stood like a champ, not a single flinch at the water.  Took my nails scraping off some of the grime and filth, but eventually she was mostly white again.  Sighed because I was SURE she was going to roll, but removed her halter and watched her charge off to go find the herd.

Walked into the house with Kaylee after unhooking the truck and realized something.

Why, I do believe I ENJOY that big mare.  She isn't Strider, he's always going to be my favorite ride...but...she's actually quite pleasant to be around! 

Once you catch her. 

And tomorrow begins my camping trip with my girls!  I CANNOT WAIT!!!!

And then it was Sunday....or "Pony Spa Day and Tilly Ride Day"

Sorry it's been a while.  :)

Sunday saw me hustling out of bed early again (country living, am I right?  Can I get a high 5?) so I could hitch up the trailer, load Tilly and Zurkh and get them trimmed and then go for a 1 hour ride, assuming the trim didn't make her sore, on Tilly at McKinney Roughs.

Knowing myself as I do, and having Waze'd the length of time to drive from my house to Holly's, I gave myself 2 hours of drive time and 45 minutes to hook up and load horses. 

Hooking up went off without a hitch (HAH!  See what I did there?), but, Tilly KNEW I was up to nefarious goals when she saw the halter.  So, off the herd (except Zurkh, who just wants to hang out with the humans) raced.  Cue annoyed sigh as I go into the barn and grab a bucket of grain and start shaking it.  I know if I can just get Strider, I can get the rest of the herd.

*shake**shake**shake*  I walked the entire front part of the property, rattling the feed.  I walked to their favorite hiding places.  Nothing.  Puzzling. 

I keep walking and shaking.  Still, no horses.

Well, lately they've been interested in hanging out behind the tree line, so maybe they're back there.

To my incredible annoyance, and my concern, my back gate is open.  Into the back pasture that has uncapped TPosts, coils of wire laying willy-nilly and who knows what all else my horses could kill themselves on. 

I mutter under my breath and push through my anger and fear as fast as possible before I approach them.  I cannot and won't chase them ALL the way to the back of the property.

I tried to catch Tilly, but she just ran laps around Socks and Strider, and it was getting me no where, fast.  

So I hope that they won't bolt as I approach Strider, who is happily grazing away.  I dump a little bit of the grain on the ground, and halter him up.  Leading him off, I expect Socks and Tilly to follow him.  Which means they won't and they didn't.  Horses.  They'll fool you EVERY single time.

I get Strider up to the feeding pen, Zurkh following along like the sweet puppy dog he is as my time keeps ticking away.  Internally I'm groaning, but still knowing I have time to make it on time as I turn around and head back out to the pasture to get Socks and Tilly.

Socks is an easy catch, and again, leading him out, and Tilly just refuses to go back through the gate, so I flick the end of the lead rope at her butt, throw my energy her direction and point her through the gate.  FINALLY she goes through, so my little trio heads up front. 

Toss Socks in with Strider, Zurkh goes into his pen, and then it's the Tilly tango.  She and I dance back and forth and back and forth with one another.  If I can physically touch her with a hand, she will stop dancing.  But it's getting a hand on her that is a challenge.  And she KNOWS if I have a halter or if I don't.  I may need to just get a string halter for her.  And really and truly focus on my body language and emotions. 

And now comes the fun part.  Let's see if Tilly will go in my straight load.

At this point, according to the clock, I should be pulling out.

Except I know Holly will understand if I'm late because of loading.  So, time table is tossed, and we set to work.

Doors open, thread the lead rope through the bars of my divider, let's load up.

I put some pressure on her hind and she steps forward.  Sniffs the floor.  Is doing well. 

We have some refusals.  Rearing outside of the trailer.  Typical "NO!  I won't!" reactions.  Nothing I haven't seen before.

Step towards.  Get one foot in, think she's being pressured too much, so she rears, thwacks her head on the roof and squirts out backwards.

Okay then, no go. 


Let's try something else then.

Around the center bar?

No go.

Slide the divider over and run the rope through that?

Another negative.

Okay then...you win mare.

I remove the entire divider, and she hops right in.

Go figure. 

I close the door behind her and bring the divider BACK in, set it back up, slide and lock it and the butt bar into place then go get Zurkh.  Who has only been in this trailer one other time.

He marches right up, sniffs the floor, then hops right in.

GOOD PONY!!!

Leap into the truck, ask Joe to please let Socks and Strider out AFTER I've left so they don't try to chase me out the gate and I hit the road.

I send Holly a text, assuming I'll be closer to 11 than 10:30 getting there.

Go figure, for once, I'd have been RIGHT on time.  Except, having sent that text, I opted to stop, fill up the truck, grab a drink and some breakfast and show up at Holly's closer to 11, as I'd predicted.

We pull in, and immediately Holly starts laughing at the height discrepancy of the butts in my trailer.  And, I should have taken a picture because it really is rather funny.  Tall Tilly on the right, short Zurkh on the left.

I went to unload Zurkh, who just refuses to back out of my trailer.  I suspect because it's a LONG step down for his little self.

Tilly hops out without much fuss or muss.  She gets a little spazzy when Holly sets down her HoofJack behind her, so Holly brings it up, lets her sniff it and, I say again I'm really not sure how she'll do, but I've worked with her consistently the past few days and she was okay at home.

And then, Tilly stood like a rock.  She was fantastic for all 4 feet.

Initial thoughts; Tilly is laminitic.  She is cresty necked, has fat pads, and thin soled and lots of rings on her hooves.  I am currently reading and learning how to care for a laminitic horse as I've never had one before, so want to make sure I'm doing right by her.  In the spring, she'll be in a grazing muzzle, or I'll create her a dry lot, OR she'll stay in my feeding pens, OR I'll set up my hot wire fencing and create her an area all of her own. 

Holly did say that, while I may have eventually gotten Tilly's feet set to rights, I may not have.  They were pretty bad.  She said that what she suspects is that, if Tilly wouldn't stand still for previous farriers, they wouldn't have done an in-depth job on her feet, thus allowing them to slowly degrade and get worse.  No one wants to be under a horse that won't stand still. 

She praised the work I did with Tilly for her feet, and said once again that I am a miracle worker with getting horses to give up their feet for trims.  Made me feel wonderful.  As I've said, I'm no trainer.  I don't really know what I'm doing, and I cannot finesse a horse, but I CAN install some very basic things on a horse.  And apparently, giving the feet is something I can do.  Go me.

Then it was Zurkh's turn.  Apparently, I should have worked with him some as well.  Holly said he wasn't BAD, just impatient about standing still.  He also said he had a negative palmar angle.  That is next for me to learn about.  Again, not something I could have corrected on my own, so, good that I brought them to her.  She said she also thinks he MAY have a slight touch of ringbone, but without X-rays we'll never know, and, even if he does, he's not carrying a heavy rider, so he should be just fine.

We stood around and chatted for a little bit, then it was time to load them up again.  Tilly took a little bit of time.  And, I wasn't thinking and had clipped her in the trailer, and then she had a freak out.  So, I was trapped in the trailer with a thrashing horse trying wildly to get out.  Once she stood still I unclipped her and she rocketed out backwards.  I was SURE she wouldn't get back in, and yet, brave mare did. 

Holly was like "You were so calm to just stand in there while she was in a panic.  Most people wouldn't have been so calm."

Honestly, the ONLY thought I had during that whole thing was "Please don't crush my toes Tilly."  She kind of pinched one of my toes, but nothing bad.  And I hadn't even thought of ducking behind the divider until after it was over and Holly mentioned it.  I was more focused on getting her unclipped to let her out.  Sometimes I'm not so smart.

I had asked Holly if she thought it would be okay to take Tilly across the road to McKinney Roughs on the Pope Bend side for a brief trail ride.  She she thought a walk only ride with a little bit of gait, as long as we were careful on the few rocks we encountered would be just fine, and probably good for her.

So, away we went.

Offload them again, put Zurkh in one of the permanent pens with a bucket of water and a big flake of hay, saddled Tilly up, and away we went.

Brand new set of ears!  Tilly girl!

When we first set off, she didn't really want to go.  She cried for Zurkh.  Was a little sticky until she realized I meant it.  Then away she went.  Down the trail we marched, her walk is HUGE and forward.  I haven't ridden such a big horse in....well...I can't remember how long.  Eyes on my Garmin, and already her walk sets her ahead of Strider.  *sigh*  Not fair.

Then we set into a gait.  And again, eyes on my Garmin.  Oh my gosh.  At a slow gait, we're down to 7 or 8 minutes a mile with minimal effort. 

I briefly ask for a canter, but she doesn't seem willing, and I'm not going to fight AND, knowing she's fresh trimmed (so everything must feel WEIRD to her), I don't ask more than twice, and just insist she gait a little longer.  Then back down to a walk. 

She was a champ about the Mule/Gator that came up behind us on trail.  Once we turned to face it, it was no big deal.  The horses and hiker who passed us going back to the trailers were a minor hiccup.  She wanted to turn around and follow them.  We got to a point on the trail where she did NOT want to go forward.  So she backed up.  And backed.  And backed.  Fine then, let's keep backing up.  I stopped, asked for forward, and got more back up.  Okay mare, gentle pop on the shoulder and it was a "Yes Ma'am" response as she moved forward.  And past whatever thing she didn't want to pass before.

Tilly ears on the Pecan Bottom trail.

After about 31 minutes, I turn us back around and start our way back to the trailer.  I had promised Joe I would only ride for an hour, and I was determined to stick to it.  I could tell she was sweaty, but not panting or super sweaty.  Nothing dangerous.  She was great for the whole ride.  Deer leaping through the brush and hopping across our path, no big deal.  In fact, I think she thought she WAS a deer and wanted to go bounding off after them.  The ONLY spook we had was when a leaf fell off a tree.  And her spook was a simple startle in place with a small drop.  I can handle that.

She could tell once we got close to the trailer.  She started to cry for Zurkh again.  And wanted to speed up.  And attempted to cut trail.  Naughty girl.  Can't do that!!!

Hey.  Aren't we done?  Why am I still dressed?!

We got back and I hopped off, really very pleased with her.  My hips hurt a little bit.  She's MUCH broader than everything else I ride.  But, I do believe she'll make a GREAT horse for Joe, and I think I'll enjoy riding her some myself.

No, seriously.  I'm DONE!  Get this off me. (Photobomb of the Red Draggin!)

Stripped tack, hosed her off and for the 3rd time of the day, popped her back into the trailer.  She was a little easier.  Not great, but better.  I didn't have to remove the divider, just slide it over again.

And Zurkh, just hopped right on in.  Sweet pony.

Overall, I was quite pleased with them.  And with my ride!!

4.08 miles in 1:07