Section 32 Open Space Ride

My local riding group organized a group riding event in a county open space area not far from my house. Because the trail head has not been well-developed for parking of horse trailers yet, we got permission from Founder's Ranch, home of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), to park on their property and ride out from there.

Two of our trail guides, Ray and Martha.

The road to the official trail head is actually that dirt one over on the left in the below photo. The entrance is gated and was actually quite challenging to open due to the tangle of twisted wire.

Our group consisted of mostly short eared equines. But we did have one long eared equine that was as cute as could be.

We had one rider, Mike, that was ponying a horse (on the right), and our other trail guide was Michael, over on the left.

We started off with a larger group and lost 4 riders within the first 15 minutes. Two left because their horses were green to group rides and were proving to be a challenge. Not sure why the other two riders turned around and returned to their trailers.

I didn't mind that we lost four riders, though. I prefer riding in smaller groups.

I think my Apache mare was aware that her barn was just over those ridges in the distance. Even farther in the distance, we could see the top of the Sandia Mountains.

I had invited my friend Yvonne to join me on this ride, and I gave she and her mare a ride in my rig.

Yvonne and Etta Bay bringing up the rear.

I have known Mike for over 6 years, because we both used to compete in ACTHA competitive trail rides. Now he mainly rides trails on his paso fino horses.

Apache loves to bushwhack, so we had fun riding off trail and taking photos of our group.

It was a gorgeous day and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The views to the east, from the top of the mountain were amazing!

And although the views were incredible, the tree clearing that had been done to control forest fires, was not.

I would not ride this area on a hot summer day as it would be brutally hot. We rode it in March and it was still uncomfortably warm out in the open, without the shade from any trees.

We rode for about an hour and a half, and then started looking for a rest stop/lunch spot.

Ok, excuse me little rant. But it must be said.

These riders have absolutely no idea to do a truly enjoyable ride with a picnic lunch stop. In the past, this group typically rides non-stop for 2-3 hours, without any rest stop or lunch. To me, that is just sad and such a waste of wonderful day spent with your horse and riding buddies. 

People! Pack a lunch! Pack some wine even. At the very least, a cold drink! Stop for a rest and a leisurely lunch on the trail. Find a beautiful shady spot surrounded by pretty trees with lovely views, if you can. A good log or a boulder to sit on, or rest your back against, makes a lunch spot perfect!

And, most importantly, tie up your horses and let them have a rest, too. Why stand around holding a lead rope while you try to choke down a piece of jerky? Give your horse and yourself a rest away from each other! Teach them to tie quietly and to take advantage of their tied time to rest. This is a good quality of every good trail horse!

So...do it! 

Yep, so there they all are. Down the hill, holding onto their horses' lead ropes, while the riders try to eat in the hot sun.

Now, notice where my friend Yvonne and I are sitting while we enjoy our gourmet lunches.

Yeah.....not standing around in the hot sun, while holding onto our horses.

We know how to do lunch right!

While we were sitting under the shade of the trees, enjoying our lunch and wine, Ray rode over to say hello. After he dismounted, he even came over to join us and admitted we had a good idea.

After a very nice lunch stop (for some of us anyway), we mounted back up and continued down the trail.

Trail Selfie!

We rode sort of a lollipop route, in that we did a loop in the middle, but rode the same section of trail at the beginning and end. I don't mind riding the same route back, because the views are often different.

It was a little challenging riding back, because our lead rider allowed his gaited horse to get excited and ride at a fast pace to return to the trailers, and everyone ended up getting spaced pretty far apart, which meant that some horses got anxious and started speeding up. Some riders were even letting their horses trot and canter back to the trailers.

Ummm....not cool.

We ended up having to let our horses trot to catch up, too because they were getting wound up watching other horses race ahead. But Yvonne's hat blew off, so we needed to stop so she could get it. Thankfully Ray heard us call out to stop and he offered to dismount to pick her hat up for her, but it was challenging to keep our horses from prancing and dancing when they knew that the rest of the group had left us behind.

We finally caught up with the rest of the group at the trail head gate, which needed to be opened. So, the rest of the group were standing there waiting for someone to open it for them. I made Apache walk at a controlled pace back to the trail head, but it was a brisk walk for sure. She was relieved to see the rest of the group waiting at the gate to be let out, instead of all the way back at the horse trailer parking area.

But even after Martha opened the gate for everyone, one rider rode away back to the horse trailers, instead of waiting for everyone to get through the gate and for Martha to remount. 

I find this incredibly inconsiderate!

In the end, we had an enjoyable ride, but this just confirms why I rarely ride in large groups with people I don't know well.

Thankfully, it was just a 2 1/2 hour trail ride, and I was back home in just a few minutes after loading up our ponies.

Life is Still Good!

Wordless Wednesday ~ A little SASS

 

Feeling Slick-er

 

(A sign at Founders Ranch showing the elevation of the ranch. Laughing Orca Ranch is only about 4 miles north and is at 6,996 ft elevation)

The slicker/hat obstacle was one I felt very confident about…..well, at least the slicker half of it, because we had practiced this one at home and we had even done it perfectly during the April ACTHA CTC last year. But I knew we’d have trouble with the hat pick-up second half of the obstacle, because Apache has always been nervous about sticks pointed at her, I believe, because of her time spent pastured beside a school where the kids would walk past and throw sticks and rocks at her and the other horse she was pastured with. The rotten brats probably got a kick out of seeing the horses running around.

(Roni and her mare Halley Cat picking up the hat with the very big stick. The hat is out of the photo. They did great!)

(A fun sign at Founders Ranch, with arrows pointing every which way, All of the countries below have had representatives at Founders Ranch for SASS Competitions. The sign is a way to recognize and honor their participation)

So, now I’ve got a horse that is afraid of people coming towards her with sticks or if she sees someone picking up rocks (she still eyes me suspiciously if I pick up anything off the ground).

(A decorated wagon at Founders Ranch SASS. The hill above one of the shooting ranges is where Apache and I rode along part of the CTC trail. She was really interested in those metal targets as we rode past.)

But I was still proud of her for acing the slicker grab, because it was quite windy on top of the ridge and the wind was blowing the slicker all around, and it was hanging off a high branch, above most horses, and next to a bright pink chair, which caused some of the horses to spook.

Apache had no problems with standing still while the slicker blew around, so I could grab it off from off the branch and place it on her withers.

(Hey look! Apache was doing a Turn on the Forehand. lol!)

But, like Fernvalley commented in my Moo Cow Bridge post, Apache gave me some “Apachetude” when I asked her to walk up to the man with the big stick. She became stiff and strong and refused to turn, and was snorting and blowing, so we called it good and walked away.

We weren’t there to prove anything or get stressed out. We were there just to rebuild some lost trust in one another and to enjoy a fun trail ride together.

                             You gotta problem with that? 

 

Moo Cow Bridge Revisited

 

Since receiving the Photo CD I bought from the NMMSAR Founders Ranch ACTHA CTC, I have been perusing the photos and enjoying everyone else’s performances while attempting certain obstacles. Especially the obstacles that really challenged Apache and I. I’m not very competitive, so it’s just mostly entertaining as well as a relief to see that it wasn’t just Apache and I who had difficulties.

So I wanted to share some of those wonderful photos, taken by my friend, Theresa’s daughter, Katherine. She did an amazing job being in many places with her camera that day. And she was very generous taking more than 700 photos and selling the photo cd for only $10, while allowing purchasers of the photos to use them however they please.

So without further ado, let’s revisit Moo Cow Bridge.

Queue the theme song from Clint Eastwood’s “The Good, Bad and the Ugly” movie)

You can click play and use that as the background music for the following photos. It’s perfectly appropriate, I promise.

The evil Pine Cows lie in wait (because they had nothing better to do all day)……………………

 

As you will see, many of the horses were able to cross the bridge with no trouble, but were suspicious of the spotted Pine Cows waiting on the other side.

Notice the eyes of the horses, even while they walk forward seemingly ok with the creepy cows standing guard of the exit. The eyes say it all. "Those Pine Cows are Creepy!"

The Native American (Apache or Comanche?) guy above, I have ridden with a few times before in ACTHA CTCs. Here’s a photo of he and I taken back in April 2010.

(Danny breeds and shows gorgeous Arabians and used to ride his very talented Arabian mare in the Open Classes, but because he likes to make sure all of his horses are well-rounded equine citizens, he is now riding his handsome stallion. Unfortunately, ACTHA rules state that all stallions must have a yellow ribbon on their tails, and Danny had forgotten to place one on his stallion that day, so they were disqualified)

“Hmmmm, looks like a cow, but something’s not quite right”

The Pine Cows lined the only exit. This horse was saying, “Oh my goodness…oh my goodness…eeek!”

   

 

This horse, plain and simple said, “Hell No! I won’t go!” lol!

 

And there were some horses that refused to cross the blindingly bright white bridge. No matter how much encouragement their rider gave them. “Come on Nellie! Get a move on now!”

And this spotted cutie is for Fern Valley!

You all know about Appytude right?

He didn’t have a fit, but he wasn’t going to cross that bridge, and he made that perfectly clear, ….with a firm “No, you can’t make me!”

(They were setting up for a wedding behind the mission facade)

I just love this sweet lady, Dawn. She can be counted on to be at every ACTHA Competition in New Mexico. She has been kicked, bucked, dumped, bit, thrown, and has had countless injuries. Even her doctor advises her to give up riding. But she doesn’t and she won’t give up on her mare either. She is truly an inspiration. And she loves purple (Hey Aarene! A gal after your own heart!)

Her horse refused the bridge, but they did win the contest for Best Groomed Horse. Hooray!

(Go ahead and hit the replay button for that Clint Eastwood theme song. It just works real well for this post, don't you think? Go on up there now and click replay. I'll wait right here for ya.)



As you can see, this next young man was unhappy that his horse adamantly refused the Moo Cow Bridge.

From going over the scores, I noticed that he did really well over-all on the other obstacles, but unfortunately, he ended up being disqualified for wearing sneakers on the CTC.

Can I just say that I am digging this gal’s helmet’s full brim addition? I wantz!

 

And even though I missed the opportunity to get a photo of Apache and I standing beside Matt and his handsome Clydesdale, Prince, I have to share this great photo of the two of them!

Well there ya go…Moo Cow Bridge Revisited!

What was that you asked? Oh. You want to know if any photos were taken of Apache and I attempting that obstacle, too?

Oh. You want to see them?

Seriously?

Um. Ok.

Here goes…………..

See Apache and Lisa Cross the Bridge.

See Apache and Lisa pose beautifully below the Mission facade.

See Lisa lead Apache past the evil Pine Cows.

                                                        The End!

ACTHA ~ End of Trail

 

After we slipped and stumbled down the rocks and boulders covering the steep, challenging trail down the south side of the mountain, we moseyed into a wide open section where we lost sight of the orange ribbons, or maybe it was because we were too focused on the beautiful western views of the Sandia and Manzano Mountains in the distance? 

 

The map below shows our route after leaving Obstacle #5 behind. We headed south and eventually turned in a western direction, down into a wash between two mountains, heading towards Obstacle #6, The Rope Gate.

 

Those other two ladies, the older, more experienced trail rider and her arena-bound friend, out on her first real trail ride, had sort of joined with us, after they had left their own original group early on, just like Roni and I, right around the Vine Obstacle. I guess you could say we were all renegades or outlaws, blazing the trail out on our own.

This open area was rather creepy. There were spent bullet casings all over the ground along with different shaped metal and wood targets leaning against trees. There was also a partially decomposed cow carcass over on the right side of the trail (you can see it below).

 

Before we reached the base of the mountains and the weird beam-topped gate of the Open Space area, we did have to negotiate our way down one more very steep, boulder and rock covered gully. This time I was able to give Apache her head because the trail wasn’t as narrow and lined with trees, but it was still a little hairy. Apache took very good care of us, though, and we finally made it to the bottom of the mountain and slipped through the Open Space gate and were soon at Obstacle #6, where our original group was just finishing their turn on the obstacle.

The judge had told us that she changed the rules of this obstacle from removing the rope and replacing it back on the post, to just removing the rope and walking through while dropping the rope. Sounded easier, but she also reduced the time from 60 seconds, down to 30 seconds.

Apache and I timed out right away because she really wanted us to come into the gate from her left side, but the obstacle was set up so the horse could only walk up to the gate from their right.

In her defense, this is one obstacle Apache and I have never practiced, so she just didn’t know what I wanted her to do and I’m sure I wasn’t communicating it well to her either.

Also, we were just several hundred yards from the horse camp and SASS arena at this obstacle and she was greatly distracted by the horses there that were calling out. She is not one to neigh while under saddle, even when we are left behind by other horses and riders. She tends to be pretty independent. But for some reason, perhaps because she was tired and thirsty by this time, she was calling out to the horses in the camp quite a bit and I had to redirect her attention back to me over and over by moving her feet and talking to her.

Roni and Halley Cat, on the other hand rocked this obstacle like nobody’s business.  

 

 

To say that Apache made me work hard for this next section of trail between Obstacle #6 and Obstacle #7 is a huge understatement. I knew she was tired because I was tired, and I had to keep nagging her to keep the pace. And because we were circling around the horse camp (see photo below), she was very focused on it and was very heavy leaning on her left side. Which meant I had to be heavy on my right side and left leg to keep her centered on the trail and moving forward.

Thankfully by the time we left Obstacle #6 she had stopped calling to the horses in the horse camp, but she still looked longingly in that direction.

See those mountains over there to the east? Up there is where we had just ridden approx 4 miles of the day’s trails.   

 

As you can see from the map below, the trail circled around the horse camp to the west from Obstacle #6 until we rode down into a ditch and came back up into the Downtown area of Founders Ranch at Obstacle #7. In hindsight I wonder if Apache might have been less heavy and more soft and focused if there had been some water available to the horse somewhere between Obstacle #5 and 6. She was so thirsty that when we finally got into the Downtown, she cozyed up to a big metal trash can with a flapping black trash bag inside, searching for something to drink, I’m sure.  She also had no interest in walking anymore . We were both thirsty, tired and sore.

 

 I think many of the riders were surprised at the location of the next obstacle. Obstacle #7 was a trot past the bad guys (called Bad Guy Weave…which really cracks me up. Sounds like the bad guys got a bad hair weave. lol!) and then trot-around-the-cones.

But they had the trot course set up on the gravel road, which I thought was terribly unfair for the hot, tired, thirsty, sore horses after carrying their riders around for over 7 miles all day.

As you can see, just beside the course is a fairly rock-free strip that would have worked much better and been easier on the horses' feet, especially for many of the horses who are barefoot.  

 

My instructor/trainer, Jessica G. happened to be that obstacle’s judge, and I know she tends to be more critical and conservative because she is very talented and experienced on the ways that horses and riders should cover the trot while remaining in gait. But I’ve looked over everyone’s scores that day and not one person scored over an 8, and most riders and their horses scored below a 5. I wonder if that gravel road had anything to do with it.

Here’s Roni and Halley Cat taking their turn. I thought they did well, but didn’t score above a 6.

 

As you can imagine I chose to pass on that last obstacle because Apache and I weren’t up for it. I know I could not have gotten her up into a trot if my life depended on it. As it was, it took all of my strength and energy just to get her to continue walking back to the horse camp and SASS arena.

But we did it….slow and (just a little bit) steady, we finished the race.  

 

Waved good bye to one of the Founder’s Ranch cattle. “My! What big horns you have!”

 

When we got back to the horse trailer, I dismounted, tied Apache to the trailer, removed her tack while she munched hay, and drank the rest of the water in her bucket. She even tried to drink from Halley Cat’s water bucket while I was refilling hers.

In the end, we remembered what we had accomplished that day. We had started the trail at 9:45am, rode 7+ miles over pastures and rolling hills, into the sandy washes and canyons, and up and over the mountains, attempting 7 challenging obstacles along the way. Apache had carried me safely, confidently, sure-footedly, and willingly (mostly) in large groups of horses and all by ourselves.

No we weren’t fast. In fact we were incredibly slow. But something to consider:

We started off in the 4th group of 10 riders that day. There were 4 more groups of 10 riders who started after us. In the entire day, none of those riders, except two (and they were those two ladies who ended up joining us about halfway through the ride), ever passed us.

And we still completed the ride by 2pm, while the last of those 4 groups behind us, didn’t make it back to the Horse Camp until after 4:30pm.

Something also to consider, we always arrived at an obstacle much later than our assigned group. But not once did we arrive at an obstacle, and not meet up with our assigned group, who had been waiting in line to take their turn at the obstacle, often for quite a while. While, we, of course, never had to wait more than a few minutes to take our turn.

So, if you look at the bigger picture, I think we did pretty darn good. And I am very proud of my sweet, beautiful, big hearted mare.

 

But, Boy Howdy! When we were through with our ride, we were both extremely hot, tired, thirsty and sore.

My mare and I, we were both grateful it was the End of Trail.