Trail Class and…….I’m in Love

 

 

When I arrived at Cedar Hill Farms this morning, I joined the group in the groom’s quarters for an informational meeting.

This is the view from the Groom’s Quarter’s Bathroom. Colleen really likes ‘Sugar’ and gave her access to two large runs.

 

Afterwards we all went outside to halter our horses and take them over to the arena. I noticed that ‘Sugar’ doesn’t move away from me now when I come towards her. She doesn’t look at me warily or with trepidation. She looks at me with calmness and curiosity. I was wondering how she’d do in the indoor arena because of the odd creakings and groanings the building has. We walked right in and I walked her all around the arena a couple times. The first time around she eyed everything very closely and did seem a little nervous, but she wasn’t jumpy, just very alert. ‘Sugar’ does very well with encouragement, touch, and with me keeping her attention on me.

There were a mix of different riders in the class. Including Colleen, there were 8 of us riding today. Most were like me, coming back to riding after injuries or trying to work through fear and self-confidence issues. One rider was coming back to riding after a hiatus of 10 years. Her 33 year old gelding just passed away last month and she hadn’t ridden any other horse but him for over 20 years. So she had some trust and self-confidence issues to work through.

We spent the first hour riding bareback inside the arena. It was my first time riding bareback on ‘Sugar’ and I didn’t know how she would do with me. So I had Colleen walk around with us for the first few minutes and then after realizing how carefully ‘Sugar’ was carrying me, I rode bareback on my own. I was very pleased with our bareback ride together.

Afterwards, we saddled up our horses and we rode in the arena for another hour. Then right before lunch we rode out of the arena for about 15 minutes, just in and around the trees. I can’t say one negative thing about ‘Sugar’ at all. She was calm, quiet, curious and even when some of the other horses were jigging and sending out high energy, she took good care of me.

(I don’t have any photos of me in the saddle because everyone was busy either riding or helping someone. I asked John, Colleen’s husband to take these arena photos for me. Thanks John!)

Then it was time for lunch, so I rode ‘Sugar’ back to the stables, unsaddled and unbridled her, walked her into her stall and pen, refilled her water and hay and gave her a hug and cheek scratches.

The day was so warm, in the upper 50’s and windless, so we all ate outside under the stable awning. It was a perfect day for a trail ride in the mountains.

So after lunch, I went in and haltered ‘Sugar’, tacked her up and then we headed over to the arena. Several riders wanted some more time to ride in the safety of the arena before heading out on the trails. My friend Renee decided to let Colleen ride her very energetic Missouri Foxtrotter, while she rode Rosie. I was very glad because she has been dealing with lack of self confidence issues surrounding her horse, very similar to the same issues I dealt with when riding my Baby Doll.

She tells me that I am her inspiration, but I hope she knows that she is mine. If it weren’t for her encouraging me to get back in the saddle and giving me a goal: Riding in the American Competitive Trail Horse Association (ACTHA) CTRs, I would probably still be frozen in fear and feeling depressed and hopeless about getting back in the saddle. Because of Renee, and my tenacity and perseverance, I am riding again. If you want something bad enough, you just don’t give up. Of course, it helps if you have nice people who are encouraging you, too.

Yeh. I know I look goofy. She’s just such a sweet horse. I couldn’t help but give her a hug. hee hee!

So, after a few minutes riding around the arena, we all headed out onto the trails. ‘Sugar’ was calm, careful, willing, curious, and happy to be out there. I discovered that ‘Sugar’ is fine with leading, riding in the middle,  riding in the back or even on the sides. We were in all those positions today and she took it all in stride. I also discovered that she will neck rein and will follow leg yields. I can completely lay off her mouth and just use my seat and legs softly and she goes where I ask. I love that!

(Turn the music off, by scrolling down to the bottom of this page to My Playlist and clicking the circle button with double lines.)

I also love that the more I encourage her or reward her with my voice, the more she gives. She seems very pleased to hear she’s done a good job. I brought cookies with me and I had a blast leaning over as she flexed to take them from my hand, after she gave me what I asked for. She’s just a very good girl.

While out on the trail, Colleen asked if I wanted to trot and I said yes. So I gently squeezed and upped my energy and she moved seamlessly into a nice little trot. It wasn’t as smooth as Rosie’s trot, but it was nothing like Baby Doll’s jack hammer trot, so it was fun!

This is Kathryn, the lady whose 33 year old gelding recently passed away. She’s been off horses for 10 years and used to ride dressage. She rode Sadie, one of Colleen’s horses.

Kathryn had to leave early, so 4 of us, Loetta, Renee, her husband John and I decided to ride down to the Eventing Field.

Here’s Renee riding Rosie.

It’s quite a little haul down a long gravel road, so I rode ‘Sugar’ on the side of the road and we all got sorted of scattered along the road. For a while we were actually riding by ourselves, and because of the road curving, the other riders were out of our field of sight.

‘Sugar’ called out a couple times as we rode along, but she didn’t get jiggy or try to rush forward or turn around. She did everything I asked of her.

Lynette and her pretty Arabian mare Tango.

When we got down to the Eventing Field, we rode around for a while,  and I asked ‘Sugar’ to walk down into the now dry, Water Obstacle. She didn’t want to go at first, but it didn’t take much for me to encourage her to move right down inside and walk through and up the other side. We also left the group and walked up a very steep hill and down the other side, and even when we came back around and she could see the other riders in the distance, she still stayed under my control and only did as I asked. I moved her into a trot to catch up with the other riders and we both enjoyed that, too.

Loetta and her cute gaited gelding, Profie (she’s also the part owner of Rosie, along with her daughter)

We rode back up to the barn afterwards and I untacked her, brushed her down and picked out her feet and set her up with water and hay. Then I hung out with her for a few minutes petting her. After a while, I left and came back with some apple slices. I want to work with her so she will always be easy to catch. That is one thing that I liked about Baby Doll is that she was never difficult to catch and halter. I want ‘Sugar’ to know that not every time I come to see her will I be haltering her or jumping on her back. I want her to be happy to see me, and so far it does seem to be working.

 

Well, tomorrow morning I’ll be heading back down to Cedar Hill Farm to ride on the trails again. I hope all of you are having a beautiful weekend and finding time to spend with your horses.