Through a Gate!

 

 

Ok. Just one more post after this one and we’ll be almost done with the long posts filled with photos and stories of the horses and riders from last weekend’s ACTHA rides.

I know y’all are getting bored. But it’s fun for me to recount each day’s events and to see the photos posted. And there were a few riders at the CTCs who wanted to “see before buying” and this way they can look at the photos here and decide if they want to purchase the CDs from me.

So forward we go……

Ranchman John politely declined going to the ACTHA CTC on Sunday morning. The crazy winds from the day before had done him in and he had no interest in a repeat performance. Jax, on the other hand was eager to go….IF he could drive the Mule again.

And I was decorated in the theme of the day: Anything to do with wind. Unfortunately, it was so windy, that I wasn’t able to wear this fun homemade hat except for this photo because the wind threatened to helicopter my hat into the sky.

Ranchman John encouraged me to drive our GMC truck instead, because we could have protection from the winds and cold, but against my better judgement getting influenced by Jax’s pleading eyes, we drove the truck to the ranch, then left it parked while we climbed aboard the Mule.

See how the wind was whipping stuff around? I even tied the windsock to the armrest because it kept trying to whap us in the face.

It was less windy on Sunday, by maybe 5-8 mph. But there were still some strong gusts and the temperature was actually quite cold. I was thankful to have my windbreaker, but wished I had worn several layers and some fleece, because I shivered most of the day and my chin and nose kept going numb.

Even so, we had 25 riders signed up and 19 riders showed up. Not too bad considering the crazy weather!

 We drove out of the ranch camp and with our trusty trail map, this time following the Orange Trail, we made our way to Obstacle #2.

We actually got a little lost in the beginning and made a wrong turn and ended up at Obstacle #7 and had to turn around. The entire CTC Trail was 7 miles long with 7 obstacles.

And it felt like a very long way to finally reach Obstacle #2, even though on the map it doesn’t look all that far. But I’d guess that it was at least a mile or two. Looking at the map then, makes me wonder just how far a distance it was between Obstacle #2 and #3. 

 

It was apparently a long distance for the horses, too, or we just made very good time, because we ended up waiting for the horses and riders to show up at Obstacle #2 for more than 30 minutes. This is when I was really longing for the warmth and protection of the truck, because we were completely exposed out there on the flat lands with no hills or trees in sight. The chollas are useless for providing any kind of wind break and I was thankful I didn’t drink too much tea that morning before the ride. There would have been nowhere to squat for a little privacy.

But finally the horses arrived and we quickly realized that this gate latch was not going to work for the riders and horses. It was a metal hook piece that slipped inside of a ring and required two hands to release. 

 

The fence post also had barbed wire around it which made it quite treacherous to try to un-loop the latch and chain. This problem only affected the first two riders, and then the judge, judge’s assistant and myself found a rope to use, in place of the metal hook and loop latch, to create a double loop system to make it simpler for riders to open and close the gate.

We offered the first two riders a second chance, or do-over, to try this new system and sadly they declined. 

 

The first rider to try out the new rope loop system was our own Dun Appy and her mare Lady Bug. Unlike yesterday’s side saddle ride, Dun Appy rode in her Western saddle instead. Good thing, too. I’m sure trying to stay warm while wearing a wind blown dress would have been a real challenge.

 

She looked nice and warm that day and they aced the gate obstacle!

 

 

I think this rider and her horse should sign up for the Man Tracker Show. I would not want to be hunted down by these two. Would you?

Of course, we’d have to call the show “Woman Tracker”, don’t you think? 

 

 

 

 

Oh my goodness! Is this little horse not the cutest thing ever?

 

And you can tell she really had fun riding her little horse, too.

 

 

I was trying for some creative angles with this obstacle. What do you all think? Look good? Or just weird?

 

And then that group left us and moved on down the trail, to the next obstacle.

 

And the next group of riders arrived and it was “game-on”!

 

Whooeee! It was so windy and cold that day!

 

But the riders and their horses all did a really terrific job!

 

 

 

And did it in style, too.

 

Just a note. After the first day’s ride, when I stood up and told all the riders that my CDs were for sale and that I made sure to photograph each and every rider, one rider called out, “How do I know that you photographed me? I don’t want to pay for a CD that doesn’t have any photos of me on my horse”.

I promised her that there were at least two photos of each rider on the CD, one at each obstacle. And I added that there were more than likely 3 or more photos of each rider and their horse. I can’t remember if they ended up buying a CD or not, but if they did I hope they were pleasantly surprised.  

 

I do have to say how pleased I was later in the week, to see that the lovely lady, Cheryl who rode side saddle on her Arabian gelding, Lamont, the day before, had updated her Facebook Profile photo with the photo I took of her posed in her beautiful dress, in front of the mountains, perched upon her handsome steed: Her Facebook Link. Isn’t that awesome?

 

And then that group of riders and horses ambled off in the direction of north, towards Obstacle #3.

 

And the next group of riders cantered up from the south where they had completed Obstacle #1.

 

First up was Mike on his beautiful Paso Fino mare. He had ridden his paint horse, Chester on the CTC the day before…and won, too!

 

They seemed to do pretty well on Sunday, too. But wow! That paso fino sure moves her feet fast.

 

 

Such a pretty horse…and a silly photo. Not quite the look I was going for….a cholla thorn to the head.

 

And then it was time for Theresa and her handsome Hungarian Warmblood/Lipizzaner cross gelding, Zeema, to compete. They were registered as an Open Rider, so they had to side pass up to the gate then open it.

 

Then they walked through and then closed the gate.

 

Then all Open Riders have to side pass to the exit flag.

 

 

Another team that seemed to do well. And look good doing it. Isn’t the zebra print saddle pad cute?

 

 

And then it was time for the steady eddy, cool cucumber Charles and his just as calm two year old paint horse to attempt the gate obstacle.

 

 No problem! Piece of cake for these two.

 

And about this time my camera not only froze up from the cold, but I went through my second….and LAST(!) set of batteries. Ack!

Thankfully Jax had brought his backpack which he keeps lots of spare batteries for his gaming equipment. So, even though I missed one rider/horse team (Jessica and her Palomino) completing the gate obstacle(which they did perfectly), after I breathed some warm air on my camera and replaced the batteries, I was able to shoot this photo of both Charles, his Paint horse and his partner Jessica and her Palomino. 

And they didn’t seem to mind. In fact they bought a CD from me for each day’s rides.

 

And here is Matt, a member of the New Mexico Mounted Search and Rescue, riding his handsome Clydesdale, Prince, on Sunday as a Safety Rider. (He rode his Arabian on Saturday)

Last Spring when Apache and I competed in the April ACTHA CTC we got to ride alongside Matt and Prince. We felt SO small and I could tell Apache was a little nervous to be dwarfed by such a huge creature. I get the impression though, that Matt’s horse has no idea how big he is. lol!

If you click on the following link, so you can view some of the photos I took for the New Mexico Mounted Search and Rescue during a Route 66, Run, Rock, Rally Parade in 2009, including Matt and Prince and Theresa and Zeema, too: NMSAR Gallery 

 

This next photo deserves some explanation and a very special tribute to a lovely red equine that is very dear to me.

And that horse is Rosie. She is co-owned by my friend Loeta and her daughter, Jackie. (That’s Jackie riding her below. She drove down from Colorado for the ACTHA rides)

Rosie holds a sacred place in my heart. (Click on the links below to see photos and videos with Rosie and me) She was the first horse I rode after I got back on the horse that landed me in the hospital twice:

My First Ride on Rosie.

She was part of the reason I finally decided to find a new home for my first horse. I had no idea you could ride a horse that was willing, gentle, kind and didn’t argue every time you asked for anything. My first horse was difficult to say the least. Rosie was not. Rosie is kind, gentle, willing, and a been there-done that kind of horse. She taught me to trust and believe in myself and horses again.

I Rode Rosie in the Snow. And I Rode her in an Arena and even More Snow! And she carried me over hills and into valleys…and Yes, even More Snow!

Rosie was the first horse I actually enjoyed trotting and cantering and we did so often. And when my Apache Mare Injured Her Shoulder while we were camping up in the Carson National Forest last July, Rosie was the one who came to The Rescue. And she kept me safe when our group was Surprised by a Rattlesnake!

And she carried me up and down steep mountains and through peaceful Aspen Glades so We could Visit The Mother and Stand in Awe of Her.

She was instrumental in helping me regain my confidence and trust. And I will be forever grateful for her.

I’m so glad that I get to see sweet Rosie every so often. I told Jackie how special Rosie is to me and what a difference Rosie has made in my life’s journey with horses, and Jackie surprised me by inviting me to ride Rosie whenever I’d like. And I am looking forward to taking her up on that offer very soon. 

 

I actually was very surprised that Rosie was willing to stand so close to Prince. Rosie’s a horse who is happy being on her own and prefers that other horses stay out of her personal bubble. Either she just really liked Prince or she was posing nicely for me. I prefer the latter. hehe!

Next Up: Across a Bridge