4H Parents-Only Ride

8/29/10 - Pam, Karen and I met at our usual spot and caravaned to the lake. Two other women that Pam invited met us there. Pam rode Sadie, and brought Brandy for Karen to ride, since Abby is at the trainer's. I took Ella.


We wanted to go the other direction this time; we were told it might be the easiest way to take the 4H kids. The biggest drawback was that we'd have to ride 1/4 mile on pavement to get to the trail to the dam and didn't want to do that with the kids.


One of the other women said we could cross the road at the parking lot, take one of those trails - about 15-20 minutes - and come out right across the road from the trailhead to the dam. We decided to do that, so she led the way.

The trail across the road is harder - narrower, rougher, up and down, rocky, over a few big fallen branches, across steep water crossings that were dry today. A squirrel jumped in a tree and made a lot of rustling noises; Ella and another horse spooked. You know something is scary if Ella spooks; I don't think I've ever seen her spook before. The other horse made it worse of course; Ella might not have spooked if the other horse hadn't.


It took about 30 minutes to get back to the road and begin the main trail to the dam. Even that one was a bit rougher than the main one we've ridden before, more hills and rocks, but other parts were mown grass and nice.


We rode to the dam and turned around; the other two women went on around the lake. We went up the road this time instead of taking the trail across the road.


Karen and I decided we should take the club the way we've gone before, instead - it's wider, better footing (no big rocks), the trees aren't as "close" and scary to a horse. We'll also have the bridge and step-pyramid thing to do, and we'll cross the stream, then turn around and go back, for an hour-long ride. We're planning that ride this fall.



Back at the parking area after the ride:
Karen on Brandy; Pam on Sadie


Karen; Kathi on Ella


Kathi and Pam

Dakota

Ella

Taken at a playday in May.
Her halter is so clean and pretty here.

From a Child's Eyes

Some photos taken by my six-year-old
granddaughter while she was visiting.

Second Trail Ride

7/23/10 - Karen went with us to the lake this time, riding Abby.
(L to R: Karen on Abby, Kathi on Dakota, Katie on Ella)


We went further down the trail this time, all the way to the creek which we crossed, then turned around to go back and crossed again.


Dakota leads on the way out. (I've realized that I can tell when I took a picture by whether or not Katie and Ella are in front of me on the trail.) For a horse that is so buddy-sour, Dakota sure doesn't mind being first in line and even leaving the others behind. On the way back, Ella takes the lead. She enjoys the trails, but she has a very no-nonsense attitude: "lead, follow, or get out of my way." She takes the trail obstacles in stride.


Dakota would not even look at the little bridge last week. I'd worked with him at home this week and finally got him to cross ours, so I gave it a try today and he crossed with no hesitation. We went over the second obstacle, the stair-step thingy, with no trouble.
(Pictured is Karen and horse Abby, below.)




No photos of me this time since I was the only one with a camera. Obviously those white ears belong to Dakota.

Quotes

No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.
~ Winston Churchill


There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.
~ Winston Churchill


Riding: The art of keeping a horse between you and the ground.
~ Author Unknown

First Trail Ride