Mountain Trail Ride

 

Following up from my previous Pony Playday post post……

After playing with the obstacles in my paddocks and backyard for almost 2 hours, I asked Kendra if she’d like to go for a trail ride. She of course was pretty keen on the idea and was wondering where we would be riding straight off my property to go trail riding. This little adventure was a pretty big deal for me, because I hadn’t ridden on these trails for 3 years. The last time was on Christmas Eve when I still owned my mare Baby Doll…and that trail ride ended with a visit to the ER followed by my ACL surgery.

And just to cause even more trepidation about riding on these trails, my neighbor friend Val had ridden them last Spring and she and her horse Scout had been attacked by another neighbor’s pack of loose-out-of-control dogs, which caused Scout to fall over backwards on top of her and break her ankle and injure her tailbone.

But it was a gorgeous day and we were riding during the week, the time when most of my neighbors are at work and their dogs are kept inside or safely in a pen under control.

This was also the first time I had ever ridden my Apache mare off of my property and on the trails surrounding my house. Sure, in the over 2 years I’ve owned her, I’ve trailered her to quite a few clinics, lessons, trail rides and ACTHA rides and she always seems to enjoy herself and does great, but this was still a first experience for the two of us. And I was glad that my friend Kendra and her gelding Bailey were joining us, too.

We left my property and rode through my neighborhood and headed out to the land behind my house. Some of the trail is along gravel and dirt roads, while some is on a dirt trail created by one of our neighbors who is very welcoming to all of us who want to walk or ride around the perimeter of her property.

I was pleased that my Dobbie Girl wanted to come along for the trail ride, too, as Apache really seems to enjoy my little Chiweenie’s company.

 

Kendra and Bailey were enjoying our trails and seemed surprised that they were accessible right off my neighborhood. Apache was relaxed and calm as she always is and seemed very happy to be out exploring the trails with me. She truly is the perfect trail horse for me.

Kendra and I took a lot of photos, well at least until her camera died. :(

 

One section of the trail travels onto another neighbor’s property and goes uphill onto a ridge.

 

It had been over 3 years since I rode my mare Baby Doll on this section of trail and I was pleasantly surprised at how the owners of this land had cleared such a nice trail for anyone wanting to ride or hike on it. I had met these neighbors a few years ago when riding up the ridge with my neighbor friend Val, and the landowner apologized for the trail not being cleared. I was quite surprised about the apology considering we were basically trespassing, but I was also touched by the generosity of my neighbors to welcome us to ride and hike on their land and trails. 

 

These neighbors don’t own horses, so of course, some of the higher branches could use some trimming, and Kendra and I had to dodge and lean out of the way of some of them. At one point, I had to hang off the side of Apache, ‘Native American Ambush style’, but I still ended up with a number of scratches on my arms.

 

Still it was such a beautiful, challenging, and fun trail, that we were just grateful for the opportunity to ride on it.

 

Once we reached the top of the ridge, we rode around and explored up there for a while, and then Apache and I led the way back down.

 

We stopped a few times to enjoy the views from our ridge, to the ridge across the valley.

 

I’d like to bring some loppers back up here on horseback or with my llamas, and trim up some of those higher branches.

 

I was so proud of Apache. She is happy to lead or follow, and it was fun to ride in front sometimes as well as in the back. Dobbie seemed to enjoy the ride, too and did a great job at keeping up with our horses.   

 We soon reached the bottom of the ridge and continued on down the trail towards the big meadow. Bailey is such a handsome boy!

 

It was a gorgeous warm day with beautiful cool breezes. Perfect day for a mountain trail ride. The grass sure has been growing with the rain we’ve gotten lately.

 

 

We were happy to let our ponies enjoy the yummy green grass.

 

Kendra and I, and both of our horses were thoroughly enjoying the gorgeous day and our beautiful mountain trail ride.

 

It was really nice to have my Dobbie Girl on our trail ride, too. Apache is quite fond of my Chiweenie. And, it’s no wonder. Dobbie is very respectful of horses and never harasses them.

 

And I really enjoy Kendra’s company. And Apache and Bailey get along really well, too.

 

Apache was in nirvana with all the fresh green grass to eat and she made me laugh when she tried to take additional bites of grass when her mouth was already stuffed full!

 

On the way back to my house, we rode through the neighborhood and on my neighbor friend Val’s (Fantastyk Voyage) road that travels beside her arena. I’m very appreciative that Val doesn’t mind me riding through here because it’s the safest path to the trails behind our houses. I was also thankful that she had her dogs safely in a pen so they wouldn’t try to run around or harass our horses. Annie and Yalla! both ran around and whinnied at us as we rode by. I told Yalla! that one day she will have the opportunity to carry her human and ride out on the beautiful trails behind her barn, too.

 

It was a great day and a wonderful trail ride. I can’t wait to take Apache back out on our trails again soon.