Train Wreck

My instructor friend, Lori, invited me to go trail riding with her today. She wanted me to ride one of her horses, an Appendix Thoroughbred named EJ, while she rode a Quarter Horse, named Goose, she had just gotten in two days ago for some refresher training. She not only gives lessons, but also retrains horses and is licensed to do so. I took lessons from her for several months this past Spring and then bought my current horse, Baby Doll from her.

I saddled up EJ and rode him in the arena for a while so we could get to know one another. He's a trained dressage horse, so riding him at a trot is a dream. You barely know you're moving.
Lori worked Goose in the other arena and then we both headed down the road on horseback. We had to walk beside the road for about a mile until we could get to some trails. Both horses did really well, even when we stopped to visit with old Mr Leroy on the corner. A few cars passed and a bunch of dogs barked from behind fences beside us, but we had no problems. Goose and EJ were both a little bit fidgety, tossing their heads and pawing the ground when we stopped, but I wasn't concerned. We stepped off the road onto the trail, and immediately were faced with a steep uphill. EJ cantered right up, while Goose followed. Then it was time for the steep downhill, with me and EJ in the lead again. EJ jogged down nice and easy and so did Goose and Lori.

The ride was going well until we headed deeper into the trees and the ground was very uneven, with lots of gopher holes and deep dips between hills.
EJ is a trained jumper who easily jumps 3 1/2' jumps, and as a dressage horse, he spends almost all his time in the arena or round pen. He's used to level soft sand to move upon.

The first deep dip EJ stepped into, his front feet sunk down and he apparently didn't much like it, "Something's gonna suck me down and eat me!", because he decided to jump out and up the bank. I totally wasn't prepared for that and made a stupid pansy-ass yelp, which startled EJ, too.

And it spiraled downhill from there.

The next hazard was a gopher hole that tried to eat EJ's back hoof. He did a unique impression of a capriole. I had no problem staying on, but that little pansy-ass yelp escaped my mouth yet again, which did nothing to calm down EJ at all.

We headed up a hill and into some dense trees, while EJ tested my sanity by wanting to take off on his own, snorting and blowing. We crossed a log and then I tried to turn him to go through a narrow opening in the trees behind Lori and Ghost, and he yanked his head and did a little crow hop. Oh how fun!
I worked him in circles a few times and then we had to squeeze between a tall juniper, a cholla cactus and a barb wire fence, while stepping over a stump.

He balked twice and refused by backing up. I kept moving him forward and by the third time he was a good boy and calmly walked through, only to start up with his spaz behaviour immediately afterwards. We walked back down the hill through the trees, back to the original trail, and everytime EJ stepped into a gopher hole, or saw something moving in the distance he skipped and pranced and tried to show off his piaffe skills, head up high. This is the view I had for the last half of my ride. Notice those lovely ears way up high.We finally made it back to the road and EJ was a much calmer boy....for a little while. A large school bus came over the hill and a car drove by beside us, which made us have to step back to the dirt and high grass again....and he wasn't happy.
After the bus and car drove by, EJ decided to show off his dancing skills and did a lovely half pass on the diagonal across the road, and then back again. If I had been in the arena I would have enjoyed this very much, but not on a road with traffic.
Thankfully just about everyone around that area owns horses, so they seem to understand how to drive around them.

But once I moved EJ back to the side of the road again, he gave me a little buck followed by a rear. He may have even looked like he was attempting a capriole, but I was just trying to stay on and didn't appreciate his fancy faux dressage moves while cars drove by.

Lori was really bothered by EJ's behavior and kept giving me some pointers, but nothing seemed to work. So, she decided to take his reins and pony EJ and I back to her barn. So, for the last 1/2 mile I weathered the storm by grabbing some mane and the horn and trying to keep my leg from getting smushed between EJ and Goose. Thankfully Goose has a big ole, soft hiney, so my leg and knee felt like they were being pushed up against a down pillow. Here's a picture of Goose. The pink stuff is fly cream.
When we got back to her barn, I was pretty shaken up and felt like the little girl who had been ponied around the arena. Not the way I want to end a ride, that's for sure. Here's a picture taken of me and EJ when we returned from our ride.(Click the pic for a larger view) He goes in a Hackamore and that pink stuff around his eyes is fly cream. Notice my shoelace is loose. (Apparently having a foot rubbing against a horse' side while being ponied causes your laces to come loose)The interesting thing that happened after I dismounted, was that EJ seemed to be communicating with me, as if he was trying to say he was sorry. He tucked his nose under my arm and kept gently nuzzling me. His eyes were very soft and his head low while he nickered to me several times. so, I held his beautiful head between my hands and gave him a smooch on the nose and stroked his head and neck. So, we're still friends. But I don't think I'll be riding any rugged, mountainous trails with him for a long while. I can't wait to try out that awesome half-pass and trot in the arena, though!

One really awesome thing happened as soon as I got home. I was still pretty shook up about my wild and crazy ride, so I had to go get my Baby Doll fix. As soon as I opened the gate, as usual, Baby Doll sauntered over to say 'hello'.
She seemed to pick up on my feelings(must have been the wild heartbeat still thumping like wild running buffalos, in my chest) and she stood still, rested her head in my hands and leaned in for a hug.I think my painted girl and I are finally on the same path spiritually. She knew how to lift my spirits and make me smile today. I love my pretty painted gal.