After our trail ride in the rain, Kendra and I headed over to the indoor arena for some horsey playtime.
We trotted and cantered and jumped and practiced different obstacles. Lots of fun!
We set up all sorts of unique things to play with on our horses.
Wheeeee! The wooden dressage posts made a great pole bending course.
Apache and I did a lot of trotting, and I was very pleased with how eager and willing she was to my requests for her to trot . Personally, I think Apache was so willing because she was hoping I’d get the arena focus out of my system and want to head back out to the trails again. She is the complete opposite of my previous horse, Baby Doll, who would have rather stayed in the arena all day, than carry me for a trail ride.
Kendra even took a video of Apache and I trotting. Our first ever video of me trotting on my pony! (Oh, and please don’t criticize me on my laughable form…we were just having fun)
Kendra and I both enjoyed playing around in the arena with our ponies.
Kendra and Bailey enjoy jumping a lot!
All that running and playing created a lot of dust and made us get overheated. But we were still laughing and smiling.
I love my Apache mare!!!!
After our arena fun, we tucked our ponies into a stall with a small paddock.
And then Kendra, Colleen and I sat out underneath the stable’s front porch and enjoyed a slice of the delicious apple pie that Kendra baked for my birthday.
It was the perfect ending to my wonderful birthday week!
On Thursday, the friends I had ridden with on Tuesday and Wednesday weren’t able to ride, so I invited my riding buddy, Kendra, over to 4 Winds to ride with my Apache mare and I.
My buddy Colleen was there, but she was too busy taking care of ranch duties and caretaking of horses to be able to ride with Kendra and I. It sure was great to spend some time visiting with her after our ride, though.
The day was sunny and beautiful with a few clouds blowing across the blue sky.
It was fun just exploring and wandering around the trails on our own. The expansive views of the Manzano Mountains begged us to stop and appreciate their beauty.
I had wondered if Apache would mind that I was riding her 3 days in a row (something I’ve never done with her. Two days of riding is the longest number of consecutive days that I’ve ridden her) But as usual, she was relaxed, calm, willing and seemed very happy to be out on the trails with me.
And Kendra and her boy Bailey were enjoying themselves, too.
Views out to the Eastern Plains, towards Estancia.
Apache and I never get tired of enjoying beautiful views of the mountains.
Kendra and I both took turns letting our horses lead and follow.
We all enjoyed a relaxing, beautiful trail ride.
We flushed out quite a few rabbits while exploring.
And we laughed a lot and had a great time.
Kendra and I both enjoy taking lots of photos while trail riding, too.
We mostly just moseyed along at a walk, but we did do some trotting, too. I love how much easier I’m able to move Apache into a trot these days, too. I don’t even need my quirt, just a gentle squeeze and a kiss and she will trot for me.
Since we weren’t following established trails, we sometimes found ourselves at a dead end.
And as we rode farther north, the clouds became darker and the scent of rain filled the air.
I had never ridden my mare in the rain before and the last time Kendra had ridden Bailey in a rainstorm, a flash of lightning and clap of thunder unnerved both she and her horse and they galloped back to the barn. But we didn’t want to quit riding, so we continued on.
We soon started feeling raindrops…………..
And very quickly those little raindrops turned into a full-blown rain shower.
Apache really doesn’t like the rain hitting her face and when the rain began falling harder, Kendra and I found a little nook to hunker down into. Apache seemed to appreciate being able to tuck her head into the juniper and pinon trees. Unfortunately none of them were tall enough to get beneath and get any protection from the rain. So we got soaked. (Don’t mind the weird expression. I was actually laughing and having a pretty good time out there.)
Because that little rain squall was totally unexpected…..weather reports were calling for zero percent chance of rain….we didn’t pack our slickers on our saddles. If the rain would have been warmer, it actually would have been wonderful to ride in, but as we got wetter, we did become quite chilled.
I was very proud of my Apache mare because I’ve seen her reactions to getting rained on while at home, and she really does not enjoy the rain when it runs down her face. But she was very calm and patient with me on her back while out in the falling rain.
But she still didn’t enjoy getting rained on……..
We were all very thankful that there was no lightning and the thunder that we did hear was just a low grumble in the distance. Standing in the rain to take photos in a meadow of wildflowers was pretty funny, though.
We rode for a couple hours in the sunshine and the rain. It was a great day…..but it wasn’t over yet……..
And I remembered to turn on my GPS to record the track map that Kendra and I traveled that day.
On Tuesday, Apache and I joined four other friends and their horses for my birthday trail ride, but on Wednesday, it was time to head back down to 4 Winds Equestrian Center to celebrate my friend Lynnette’s birthday with another trail ride.
This time it would just be three of us. The Three Caballeros.
Kristi and her Tennessee Walker boy Junior.
Lynnette and her Arabian girl Tango.
and Me (wearing my new hide-a-helmet, my hubby bought for my birthday) and my sweet Apache Mare.
Apache and I enjoyed the expansive views of the beautiful Manzano Mountains. I wonder if she remembers our Spruce Canyon, Manzano Crest, Red Canyon Trail Ride that we did in July? The section of mountains that those three trails are located, is in between Apache’s ears.
Wednesday’s trail ride was very relaxed. We barely rode 3 miles. Mostly we just wandered around exploring, visiting with each other, and playing on our horses.
Kristi and Lynnette really appreciated me taking photos of them on horseback. And Apache seemed to enjoy our slow, laid-back pace and especially all the standing still I asked her to do while I took photos. *grin*
Isn’t Kristi’s boy gorgeous?
We all enjoyed talking, visiting, and laughing while our horses munched the sparse grasses. We really need more rain.
At one point Kristi and Junior were riding past this Ponderosa tree and they flushed out a bird that burst out in a noisy flapping fluttering of feathers and squawking. Junior was quite surprised and did an impressive sideways teleportation of about 8 feet. Made me a little worried about Kristi, but she sat out his spook like a true cowgirl, and we continued on our ride.
Tango is an Arabian and can be a little sensitive at times, but she gave Lynnette a wonderful birthday trail ride without any drama moments.
Apache was just pleased as punch to be out on the trails. She was enjoying choosing our own path and riding at our own speed. She made no efforts at wanting to head back to the stables and I couldn’t have asked for a better ride from her. I love my Apache mare!
We stopped a few times to let the horses graze on any green patches we could find.
One of my favorite past-times is to just sit on my horse while I let her graze. So combining that with being able to visit with my friends, was absolutely wonderful!
But after a couple hours we decided to head back, riding alongside the long driveway to the stables and indoor arena.
When we reached the stables, we saw Dick Westphal, a fellow volunteer and friend from Walkin N Circles Ranch Horse Rescue, preparing for his weekly ride on my friend’s, Colleen and John’s horse, Jake.
Listen to this…………….Dick is 87 years old!!!!!
While Dick headed off down the trail, Kristi, Lynnette and I rode over to the indoor arena for some horsey playtime.
We had a great time playing in the indoor arena. Apache and I did a bunch of trotting around barrels, posts, and over cavalettis. We also practiced backing up around obstacles and side-passing. Lots of fun with our ponies!
After about 40 minutes, we wandered back outside and found a very yummy, lush salad bar to let our horses graze on. Nom…Nom…Nom!
It was also fun to play on this grassy ledge, asking our horses to hop up and back down.
My Apache Mare was a very happy pony!
After leaving the grassy ledge behind the indoor arena, we rode around to the side and front and explored the “Spa TeePee”, where massage treatments are given to guests who stay overnight at the Wellness Center at 4 Winds Equestrian Center.
Apache: “That is such an odd-looking human barn”, Me: "You should be familiar with tee pees, my little Indian Pony"
When we got back to the stables, we decided to have some more fun with our awesome ponies.
Kristi and Junior!
Lynnette and Tango!
Me and my Apache mare!
I remembered to turn on my Magellan GPS before our trail ride. But…..I forgot to turn it off when we entered the indoor arena. So, the section inside the arena is pretty entertaining as you watch how the track recorded all of our crazy running around in circles. *grin* It was a very fun day!
"If you think your head isn't worth protecting....you might be right!"
The Ten Hiking Essentials
So true!
On Re-Homing an Animal:
"Sometimes, the greatest gift you can give an animal is to recognize that that they might be better off somewhere else and then finding that somewhere for them." and
"The best animal owners are the ones who recognize the animal's needs over the preservation of their own pride and selfishness."
New Mexico Roads
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Explore New Mexico Off-the-Beaten-Track
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Albuquerque Cheap Gas
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"You can't start the next chapter of your life if you just keep re-reading the last one!" ~ Margie Barnett
"Has anyone else noticed a pattern with the people who complain about drama and b.s. - that they are usually the ones doing it?" ~ Roxanne Ayers
"If you don't like what a feller says, then pay no attention to it" ~Suti Barns 1920
Good trail partners are not just about keeping pace – it is about riding with people who will inspire and encourage you. Good trail horses are generally made rather than found. The horses that have surmounted some baggage are doubly esteemed because they required their rider to dig a bit deeper. ~Horsebytes
"Love me or hate me, both are in my favor. If you love me, I'll always be in your heart. If you hate me, I'll always be in your mind." ~William Shakespeare
When it comes to horses, size doesn't matter. "Admire the tall and ride the small"
No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying
"You'll learn nothin' if only good things happen to you." ~Mary C. Clayton 1886
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterward"
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..." ~ Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
Mark Twain 1835-1910
"Even though you've been bucked, kicked, bit 'n stomped, Never Give Up!" Cowgirl Tuff
"A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it."
Check out the amazing movie about her incredible life! Click photo to visit her website!
In my opinion, a horse is the animal to have. One Thousand pounds of raw muscle, power, grace, and sweat between your legs.
It's something you just can't get from a pet hamster.
“Good photos are like good jokes. If you have to explain them, they just aren't that good.”
The way to avoid housework is to live outside.
~Sandra Blacksmith 1900
Pete Ramey, Natural Hoof Care
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For All Horse Owners and Everyone Who Loves Horses.
(Click book to visit website!)
A Family Undertaking: POV
A More Personal Approach to the Death of our Loved Ones
~Dear Zachary-A Letter to a Son about His Father"
(Heart Wrenching, Infuriating, Thought Provoking! (Click photo for more info)
A hard-core tear jerker! Have a box of tissues ready!
A True Story about the Life of a Loyal and Devoted Japanese Akita Dog
Das Experiment
Intense, Psychological Thriller based on The Stanford Prison Experiment (German Film with Sub-Titles)
A New Favorite Movie
"If I was on a desert island then I would have to get used to my own company - just me and the coconuts. I would have to accept myself, my warts and all. We don't get to choose our warts. They are part of us and we have to live with them. We can, however, choose our friends and I am glad I have chosen you."
Bringing Pure Joy to Children
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Hidalgo
“A horse is a horse, it ain´t make a difference what color it is.” ~John Wayne
"How fortunate for politicians that people do not think." ~Adolf Hitler
