Horse Camping ~ Trail Riding Evening ~ Day One

 

Saturday evening a small group of us, including Deb, Colleen, her granddaughter, T, Matt, Callie, and myself decided to head out for a trail ride after dinner.

With my riding partner, Apache, still sore from Saturday morning’s ride, Colleen invited me to ride my dear equine friend, Rosie. If y’all remember, Rosie was the steady-eddie horse that helped rebuild my self-confidence this Spring, after being hurt by my first horse Baby Doll. I was happy to be able to ride on Rosie’s broad, strong back once again. She is built a lot like my Apache, so I was able to use my own saddle on her, too, which I love because it fits me perfectly and is so comfortable.

I must admit I was actually surprised at how much taller Rosie is than Apache, though. The first time I ever rode her back in February, I actually thought she was small, well she was, at least compared to my 15.3hh Baby Doll. I would guess that Rosie is 15hh, while Apache must only be 14.2hh. Apache is also built more petite, while Rosie is very stocky and built like a weight lifter. I hope that in time, I can help Apache become more muscled, too.

Anyway, I definitely needed a mounting block to get up on Rosie. At the camp, I used Colleen’s mounting steps, while out on the trail, during potty/snack breaks, I used a perfectly sized boulder or a large stump.

    

On Saturday evening, the skies threatened rain, but not long after we got out on the trails around Dragonwycke Ranch, the clouds moved on and the sky was bright, blue and sunny as it dipped lower towards the western horizon.

When I rode past the field where Apache was, she gave me a peculiar look and then walked beside Rosie and I as I rode along the fence line, talking to her. Maybe I’m anthropomorphizing, but it really did seem like she wasn’t too happy about me riding Rosie and not her. 

We rode around for a little over an hour, just the 6 of us and our horses. It was very relaxing and peaceful…….well…….at least until a rattlesnake crossed our path! GAH!

(Deb, riding her gelding, Guinness, with Matt, riding his horse, Jasper, behind. Bella’s head on the right with Callie riding her.)

Deb was riding out in front and all of a sudden she started screaming, and her moving her horse Guinness quickly forward away from something. At first I thought she saw a mountain lion, but surprisingly neither I nor Rosie was overly worried. We just stopped and looked all around. Then I heard Colleen say, “Rattlesnake! Move up on top of the rocks!!!” I guided Rosie up on top of these huge slabs of granite and then I looked over onto the trail and saw the biggest rattlesnake ever, slithering in our direction! Eeeek! It’s rattling tail was at least as long as my middle finger, and it was rattling like crazy!

Thankfully, the rattlesnake slithered down into a hole before it reached our granite slab, and we all beat a hasty retreat!

(T, Colleen’s granddaughter, riding Bandit, a recent rescue from WNCR. T, is a talented rider. She lives and breathes horses.)

We then rode down to Deb and her husband’s cabin between the Pre-Cambrian Granite Boulders. What a magical place! She showed us her beautiful chicken coop and lovely chickens, too. Then we rode in between the ginormous boulders on narrow aspen tree-lined trails. A few times I had to lay across Rosie’s neck because of the low branches and I was grateful for my helmet. But it was so much fun!

We got back into camp and Colleen asked our small group if anyone wanted to do some cantering. I had already dismounted and was planning on getting a shower, so I passed, but I did take some video of the four of them cantering.

And after putting Rosie away for the night, I checked on Apache. I brought her an apple, like I often do at home, and she refused to take even one piece of it from me. Even when I bit off a small piece and pushed it up under her mouth. Weird. She also seemed….unhappy with me, like she was trying to ignore me. It was in her eyes. There was a hardness to them and a tenseness in her body.

So, I gave a few pieces to Etta Bay, who was standing nearby, and then I stopped and decided to try something different with my girl. I needed to apologize and make things right. I needed her to forgive me for not taking her out on the trails.

I stood beside her and just spoke softly to her, like I often do, and I stroked her withers, her neck, her back, and massaged her sore shoulder. I scratched the special itchy spots on her belly and I sprawled myself across her back and gave her my gentle hugs, and then I rubbed her ears and cheeks. I told her I was sorry and that I just wanted her to heal and be stronger.

And do you know what happened next?

She lifted her beautiful head from her pile of hay, turned around to look at me, wrapped me in a horse hug, and then nuzzled the hand that was still holding the apple I brought for her. She forgave me.

I know to some people that sounds crazy because horses live in the moment. They don’t hold grudges, right? And they never turn their noses up at treats, no matter what.

But I know that my Apache wasn’t happy with me…but after I loved on her and asked for understanding, she forgave me. I know in my heart that it’s true.

While I was feeding her bites of apple, several other horses came over to see if I’d share with them, too. But I was spending time with my girl and wasn’t going to be interrupted, so I chased them away, while my sweet mare stood behind me. I think it was a relief for Apache that she didn’t need to guard her hay or apple. She seemed very relaxed and her eyes were very soft.

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After spending time with my Apache girl, I went over to Deb’s lodge and took a hot shower. Felt so good! Then I came back to the camp for some drinks and snacks, and joined everyone in a few rousing rounds of Equine Trivial Pursuit, until my eyes grew heavy and the yawns kept coming. The ebony sky was filled with sparkling, twinkling stars as I closed my eyes, dreaming about that day’s wonderful, adventurous rides, and feeling eager for tomorrow to arrive so we could head out into the Carson National Forest again.