Weekend of Ups and Downs, but Mostly Ups

 

I had such an awesome good time this past weekend. It was a very busy weekend, but oh. so. good!

It started off with John and I hauling my Apache mare down to the private ranch where the ACTHA rides would be taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

I was so pleased with how quickly and easily Apache loaded for me. She was eager to go wherever I wanted her to. I realize she’s been pretty bored in her paddock because she’s been chewing the bark off of the trees in there. She hasn’t went anywhere or went on any trail rides since last September and I could feel that she was so happy to go someplace new.

When we arrived, my friend Colleen, one of the owners of the ranch, surprised me by giving me one of the most spacious paddocks for my mare to relax in all weekend.

Bad thing about that is that the paddock was full of weedy plants that Apache ended up gorging herself on, instead of the 4 flakes of hay I laid down for her.

The good thing was that Apache felt instantly at home at Colleen’s ranch because, as some of you may remember, this ranch (that used to be called Cedar Hills) was the very first place I had Ridden Apache on a Trail Ride. And it was the very first place I had also Ridden Apache Bareback. I’m sure that everything felt very familiar to her and I couldn’t help but smile as I watched my mare take a leisurely roll in her paddock and then just go right to grazing.

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After we left the ranch, we took our twinlings to their Boy Scout Camporee for the weekend, then John, Jen and I went out to dinner.

(Jax and Jem erecting their tent at the Camporee)

The next morning had me up by 6:30am and out the door by 7:30am. Thankfully the ranch is only located about 20 minutes from my house or I would have had to get up much earlier.

John had planned a full day of Daddy/Daughter time and was taking Jen down to Bosque Farms for a Train Show.

When I got to the ranch, my heart dropped when I saw my mare looking ill. She was touching her nose to her sides, looking lethargic, laying down and then getting back up. My friend LuAnne had some probiotics that we gave Apache, and within 30 minutes, Apache was looking and acting much better, and had active gut sounds, although she still hadn’t pooped.

My good friend Kendra was there for the ride, with her Bailey Boy, and after signing in for the ride and getting our numbers and start time, she invited me to come over to her trailer to get our horses groomed and tacked up.

After getting Apache tacked up, I walked her around to keep her moving, while she nibbled grass, and just kept hoping she’d poop. Well, she didn’t poop, but she did pass a lot of gas, so that was a positive sign.

After tightening cinches, we both mounted up and then rode around the outdoor arena together, until it was time for our ride time to begin at 11am.

(Kendra and Bailey)

Even though I had some excited nervousness, Apache stayed calm and relaxed as we walked around the arena.

I started thinking about the first ACTHA ride that I had ridden Apache in and realized that this weekend was a momentous occasion! Just a month after I bought Apache, I brought her down to this same ranch to ride in our very first ACTHA ride, which was also the very first ACTHA ride that Colleen had done AND also the very first ACTHA ride in New Mexico!!!

That ride was called Wild Bunch Meets Hole in the Wall Gang (Photos from the ride are in that post and the next one from Day Two) Mild Bunch Meets Hole in the Wall Gang

So, there was no doubt why Apache and I felt so comfortable being at Colleen’s ranch. Even though, it had been almost two years since we had ridden there, it felt like a homecoming.

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When it was our time to start the ride, the 4 other riders in our group asked us if we wanted to ride in front and lead, and one rider said it would be better if we were in front because her horse was a kicker. I just laughed and told her that my mare was so slow that we’d never get that close to the backside of her mare.

I don’t think she believed me at first, but I’m sure it soon became obvious to her, when they left the arena and we were far behind. At first Apache and I were in the lead because she was eager to get out on the trail, but Bailey was pretty hyped up and didn’t want to follow or walk slowly, so we decided that Kendra should let Bailey lead and see if it would calm him down. And he did calm down a little, but he was still giving poor Kendra a work out.

Saturday’s Trail was 7 miles with 7 obstacles.

Apache was wisely pacing herself, especially since this was her first long trail ride of the year, as well as her first ACTHA ride this year, too. She is out of shape and has arthritis in her left shoulder, so we had no plans to do anything strenuous, just some relaxed walking over mostly flat trails. And enjoy the beautiful views.

And I had only registered as a Buddy Rider, which meant that we didn’t have the pressure to do any of the obstacles and could instead just focus on enjoying the trail ride.

(Hey look Apache! We’re not lost. There’s a pink trail ribbon!)

And even though we did end up getting caught up with the rest of the riders in our group at all of the obstacles, for most of the ride it was just Kendra and I and our horses. It was a lot of fun and very relaxed.

I could tell that Apache was enjoying being out on the trails again because her ears were perked forward and she was looking around at everything and wanting to stop when we got to a particularly wide open vantage point so she could enjoy the views while I took photos.

(Kendra enjoyed the views, too)

A few times when she’d see other horses and riders in the distance, Apache would call out to them, but she never got antsy or tried to run and go find them. She was relaxed and calm and very willing to go anywhere I asked her to, even when we lost the pink trail ribbons and got turned around.

(Apache: Are you sure we’re going the right way, Mom? Me: Yep. See? There’s another pink ribbon ahead)

Sometimes she would pause at a junction, as if telling me, “Look around and find the right trail before we continue on. Don’t get us lost again, Mom. lol!”

I took a lot of photos while out on the trails, including some of each of the the obstacles, with Kendra and Bailey, since they were signed up to compete as Pleasure Riders:

Obstacle #1: “The Pony Express Water Crossing”

First pick up the Pony Express Bag (and hope a big gust of wind doesn’t make the bag go flying into the air just as you lift it off the post! Shhh!. I don’t think the judges even noticed. hehe!)

Then carry the mailbag across the water.

And place it on the fence. Great job!

Here is also where we caught up with another group and had one of them take our photo.

 

Which one do you like better?

Obstacle #2: The Cone Drag

Basically picking up a rope tied to a cone and dragging it from Flag A to Flag B.

(Bailey said, “No way. No how!)

 

Obstacle #3: The L-Back

Backing your horse through an L without hitting the posts.

(Bailey’s backward turning gears broke…but they backed up straight very nicely!)

 

Whoops!

Obstacle #4: The Hat Pick-Up

Judge throw a hat on the ground and then hands rider a stick to pick it up.

Kendra and Bailey did perfectly!

 

Obstacle #5 The Labyrinth:

Basically a rider had to travel a zig zag trail without hitting any of the poles

(Kendra and Bailey did great!)

 

Obstacle #6 Trot Around the Poles

This one also had the added distraction of a herd of Fjord Horses right beside the obstacle. Apache was checking them out.

 

Bailey and Kendra did perfectly!

And of course we had to visit with the Fjords as we rode on past.

I just love their big bone and stocky bodies, but small stature. And I drool over their exotic color and markings. I love when their manes are clipped to show off their contrasting stripes. Such cuties!

Obstacle #7 The Wildlife Box

Basically a cow hide draped over a roping practice steer dummy.

Bailey did great, but like most of the horses, snorted at and eyeballed the creature as he walked by.

Bailey: “Mom! What the hell is that??!”

 

Saturday’s ride was just over 7 miles and traveled across open meadows and pastures and up and over and then back down rocky ridges. There were quite a few steeper rockier sections, and this is where we experienced a few “down moments” (no pun intended). Apache strained her left shoulder, that has a bit of arthritis, during one particularly steep section where we literally had to hop down from a foot and half high boulder. Apache did it perfectly and was willing, but afterwards I noticed a slight gimp every few strides and we still had another mile and half to go before we reached the end of the trail.

My big-hearted girl gave me everything she had and took such great care of me. She did everything I asked of her without argument. She led, she followed, she put up with me getting us lost, she stood patiently and waited at each obstacle, and she was better than I ever could have asked for. (I love my girl!)

I could tell she was enjoying being out there on the trails, too, but I was worried about her and found it difficult to enjoy that last bit of trail before we arrived back at base camp. 

Apache and I were literally the last riders of the day as we slowly made our way back to the indoor arena. I waited for Kendra inside the arena as she completed her Final Trot-Out for soundness, but since Apache and I were just Buddy Riders and not competing, we didn’t have to do the Soundness Check. As it was, we would have surely failed it.

(Way to go Kendra and Bailey!!)

Lookin’ Good!

We left the indoor arena and headed back to the base camp and paddocks.

Once I got Apache’s tack removed, brushed her out and put her back in her paddock, she got some Bute to help her feel better. And I took my own dosage of I-Bute-profin, too! *grin*

Kendra asked if she could put Bailey in Apache’s paddock while she got everything packed up, and it was cute watching the two of them interact, graze, and share hay.

Apache: “What’s the bid deal, Mom? You know I’m a nice girl.

Awwww! They reminded of that scene from “Lady and the Tramp” where the two dogs share spaghetti. *grin*

But soon, Kendra had to head back home, so we said our goodbyes, and then I hung out for a while, watching my Apache mare, before I headed back home for the night.

As I watched my mare move stiff and slowly around her paddock, I became so discouraged. I started preparing myself for the very real possibility that I would not be riding the next day………