Trail Clinic ~ Day 2

 

Ranchman John was nice enough to drive me down to Cedar Hills Farm this morning, but he was relieved to be able to just drop me off and head back home and attend church because yesterday was a very long day for him having to wait for the Trail Clinic and trail ride to be over. Since Sunday was the last day for the trail weekend, after everything was cleaned up at Cedar Hills Farm, all the horses would be loaded to go back home. So I was able to hitch a ride with Colleen since she had to pass right by the road that leads to my house on her way home.

Our gravel road never gets cleared, like the main county road does, so we still have a lot of ice and snow and Colleen was concerned she might get stuck, so she dropped me off at the end of our road and I walked back, carrying riding gear and dragging my bright blue, 3-step mounting block. I bet I looked kind of funny to anyone driving by.

(Hey there, Rosie girl!)

I got to Cedar Hills Farm at 10am, greeted sweet Rosie with some rubs and cookies, and got her haltered, groomed and all tacked up. Then we walked over to the arena to mount and warm up the horses with some walking and trotting. Rosie seemed happy to trot so we did a lot of that and it was fun! After about 20 minutes we rechecked our cinches and tack and then headed out on the trails.

It was a gorgeous, wind-free, sunny day for a trail ride. It was cold, in the low 40’s, but the sunshine reflecting off of the snow made us feel warm. And I was wearing my insulated denim jacket, a fleece hoodie, a fleece sweater, and a long sleeve shirt, so I felt very cozy.

I was very excited to get out and explore the 440 acres of the property, especially since this will be the location of the ACTHA CTR "Wild Bunch Meets Hole-in-the-Wall Gang" in April. And I am planning on participating as a non-competitive Buddy Rider if everything works out. My friend, Renee is the person who helped me move forward with my new trail riding goals, so I was disappointed that she had to cancel her place in the Trail Clinic. Her goals are very similar to mine and I know she was frustrated that her job kept her too busy to ride all weekend. Bummer.

We started the ride exploring the northern section of Cedar Hills Farm, which tended to have rolling hills and lots of flat land, and then we rode west and then south and then rode all over the southern section, which was mostly covered in hills and boulders. Much more challenging and interesting. The western views were always breathtaking with the snow covered Manzano Mountains.

 

We traveled up and down a number of steep, tricky sections between narrow openings between trees. I was feeling grateful that Rosie wasn’t a tall horse and that I was wearing my helmet, because even though I bent my head low, I still managed to have low branches scrape my head.

We then rode up and over a ridge onto the eastern side of the property, with gorgeous views of the Eastern Plains and then down to where the expansive Eventing Field is located. We rode around the eastern outskirts heading north, and then headed uphill and explored another ridge, and then we ended with a trek across the Eventing Field, through a gate and then up a gravel road leading back to the stables and arena. All told we rode for about 2 1/2 hours.

Rosie only tested me once halfway through the ride when another rider had to head back early because she had an appointment. Colleen rode back with her and Rosie thought she was supposed to go back, too. She argued with me just a little until the remaining riders turned around and headed uphill in the opposite direction that Colleen and the other rider were heading. Then sweet Rosie heaved a great big ol sigh and resigned herself to following them.

She also tried to rub me off a few bushes during the ride, but I got wise and stay focused whenever we rode through any narrow openings. But Rosie neck reins well and is easy to ‘steer’ with just a slight touch to her neck, which was very helpful when riding up and down the steep sections while also having to dodge low branches.

Loetta, one of the horse rescue volunteers was also on the ride and we talked a bit. I was surprised to realize that Loetta is Rosie’s half-owner. Her daughter, who lives in Denver is Rosie’s other owner. I was pretty excited to learn that last summer the two of them rode Rosie and Loetta’s paso fino gelding on the 3 Day, 45 mile Pony Express Ride in Southern New Mexico. I’ve been wanting to do that ride since the first time I read about it several years ago.

The only issue that they have with Rosie is that she won’t ride close to other horses, so Loetta and her daughter could never ride side-by-side. I have the same problems with Rosie on the trail, too, but I prefer riding with some distance from other riders anyway because then I get to focus on riding and enjoying the scenery. But it does make it difficult to get any photos of me riding when noone can ride up to us to take my camera. Which is why I only have photos of my view through Rosie’s ears and our shadows on the ground. lol!

Some of you will be glad to know that I did make it known to Loetta that if they ever do decide to sell Rosie, to allow me to make an offer. Everyone on the ride laughed, but weren’t surprised and Christine said, “I knew that was coming”. lol! I don’t see them ever selling Rosie, but you never know.

(That’s Loetta riding the white horse in front of me)

It was a fun trail ride and I remembered to take my Ibuprofen before I started and I wasn’t as sore as yesterday. There were 7 of us riders and we came up with a name for our little group: “The Snowy Mountain Cowgirl Club”.

(Our little group with the Manzano Mountains behind them, and me behind the camera)

It seems only fitting considering that all of the 4 trail rides I’ve been on this month have been in the snow. (Jocelyn asked if snow pack in the hooves is a problem for our snowy trail rides and to answer her, I can honestly, no not at all. I'm not sure if this makes a difference or not, but none of the horses in our groups have been shod. They all rode barefoot. And not one of them had any issues with snow packed feet. Any snow that became attached to their hooves just popped out in perfect cookie-cutter hoof shapes as they walked. And after the ride was over, when I checked Rosie's feet for rocks, her feet were clean and shiny, too.)

What is ironic about this fact is that one of the things I always wanted to do after I bought Baby Doll, was to ride in the snow. And the single snowy trail ride we took ended in a very bad way. So, this month’s snow covered trail rides have been cathartic for me. Kind of like me pressing a ‘Do-Over’ button, moving forward and unloading all that heavy baggage from last year.

I am hoping that 2010 is the year for lots of happy, new beginnings and a few more opportunities to press the Do-Over button, too. 

So far the new year is starting off much better than last year’s did……….