Mid-Winter Riding Adventure

It was a gorgeous mid-winter day with abundant sunshine and a temperature of 68 degrees...in February! So, myself and three of my friends headed over to the National Forest/Open Space trails at Oak Flats/Juan Tomas. It was the first time I had ridden Apache in two months...and she was full of  spunk with tons of energy! I didn't take any photos until after lunch because Apache was too much of a handful for me to take my focus off her, and my reins, for even a second!

We rode for about an hour until we reached the Oak Flats Picnic Grounds.

Our leisurely lunch break was very much appreciated, and well deserved!

Yvonne, Roxanne and Gin.




Me, Yvonne and Roxanne.

We each brought our own mini-bottles of wine to enjoy with lunch. Great minds think alike!

And of course, a fun wine toast was in order!

Apache enjoyed a nice rest after giving me an exciting ride before lunch. I kept hoping that her energy-level would be much lower post-ride.

And it was.....for about 15 minutes!

I was even able to sneak in a few photos!

Our Trail Selfie.

I made Apache do a bunch of weaving between and around trees, quite a few turns and circles, and I even had to point Apache into trees when she'd try to run off with me! All this from my normally laid back, lazy, dead-head mare! Suffice it to say that Apache and I had a few serious discussions that day!

Plus there was still a lot of snow and melting ice...and mud, which really gave our horses a challenging work out.

Ironically, my friends' horses were all on their best behavior, except at the beginning of the ride Gin's Arab mare was a bit jiggy. But even she calmed down for the remainder of our ride. My friend, Yvonne's mare was perfect and calm all day.

I kept hoping the mud and ice would slow down Apache, but she tried to speed up instead. She was obviously having a great time and if it hadn't of been so slippery everywhere, I would have let her break out and enjoy more speed. She was thrilled when I allowed her to lope up a hill and even I broke into a huge grin and whoop-whoop!

But most of the trail looked like the photo below...covered in either snow, ice or mud.

We went from sections of snow and ice to mud, and then back again to snow and ice.

We also did a bunch of bushwhacking up and down hills to avoid the ice, snow and mud on the trails. But it was pretty much impossible to escape the mucky and slippery mid-winter mountain trail conditions.

The forest was beautiful, though, and it was an absolutely gorgeous day with bright blue skies!

Gin and Roxanne out in front.

And Yvonne, bringing up the rear. We kept those positions all day.

Some of the photos I tried to take didn't turn out so great because I had to be hyper alert with Apache's energy bursts and make sure she didn't try to run off with me or run us into a tree!

This was one of those photo moments. haha!

I loved riding in the snowy sections, where the snow wasn't too mushy and melted. So beautiful!

We only rode 6 miles which took us about 2 1/2 hours, including a 1/2 hour leisurely lunch break.

But all 4 of our shaggy beasts worked up a sweat that day! And we all enjoyed being out in nature riding our wonderful horses on beautiful mountain trails on a lovely mid-winter day.

Life is Good!!

Snowy Canyon Trail Ride

About 2 weeks after our last snowfall, I invited my friend Loeta to go riding at one of my favorite local places in the Cibola National Forest: David Canyon. It would be my 3rd ride there and Loeta had asked me a few months ago if I would show her the trails there. I picked a sunny, fairly warm day, and falsely believed that most or all of the snow would be melted in that area, because we had no snow at our house, just 15 minutes away.

Getting tacked annd ready to ride at the trailhead parking area. (Notice the snow!)

But I was wrong about the snow...very wrong. There was still snow...a lot of it. Along with deep ruts in the trail filled with cold water, covered in a thin sheet of ice. But Loeta and I were both just happy to be riding our horses on such a pretty day, and just figured it would be good to expose our horses to different, challenging trail conditions. So, we cheerfully forged ahead.

Loeta and her Paso Fino gelding, Profe

Loeta and Profe are happy to let Apache and I lead most off the time. Apache is becoming braver and more eager to be out in front and I like the wide open view in front of us.

Yep....lots of snow on the trail.

Loeta and I both took turns using my camera so we could take photos of one another.

Loeta was grateful that I had ridden David Canyon and knew the trails well, because the snow made it difficult to even see a trail.

When we rode the main canyon trail, which is basically an old Forest Service dirt road, ironically, only the trail was covered in snow, so it was easy to follow. And it was easier to ride the trail than leave it, because, even though the trail had slippery icey spots, the ground on either side of the trail was spongey with deep mud, so our horses' feet were sucked down with every step.

But the biggest challenge was just staying on the trail, especially when riding through the forest, where the snow hadn't melted at all.

Still, it really was a nice day, and the canyon is such a beautiful place to be.

But it was far from being a relaxing ride. We needed to keep an eye on the trail and watch out for slick spots, and for deep ruts covered by ice and filled in with water. At one point, Profe broke through the ice behind us and the cracking sound caused Apache to spook and lunge forward. It even scared me. I thought maybe a tree was falling on us, or a bear was crashing out of the woods!

I love this pretty section through the forest. The trail twists and winds through the trees and it's lined by huge boulders.

Loeta and I had a nice time talking and just enjoying being out in such a pretty place, but it was slow going as we had to really watch each step our horses took. And as the day went on and it grew warmer, the ground was even softer, slicker annd the icey ruts were even easier to break through.

At one point, early in our ride, I leaned over to give Apache a cookie, like I often do, and I wasn't paying attention and stuck my left index finger right in her mouth. She chomped down and the pain was excruciating as she tore the skin off of the side of the last joint. Thankfully I always carry a first aid kit for both me and my horse, so I used a tissue to soak up the blood and stuck a bandaid on my finger and we kept on riding.

I think Loeta was pretty impressed, considering how loud I hollered and how much blood there was, that I just yanked up my big girl panties and continued on without whining. Heck! I wasn't going to let a little finger injury stop me from enjoying a trail ride! hah!

I could sense that Apache felt terrible about biting me, even if it wasn't her fault. But after a while I offered her another cookie and even I was surprised at how delicately she took it from my hand, using just the tips of her whiskery lips. She was careful like that for the rest of our ride, anytime I offered her a treat. I just love my girl!

We did experience some more challenges that day. After we had already untacked and loaded our horses, we tried to drive out on the road that led into the trailhead parking area, and we got stuck. Loeta's truck isn't 4-wheel drive and we were on a sheet of thick ice! It took us a while, but we unloaded the horses again, gathered up some dirt, gravel and branches and working together we managed to get Loeta's truck and trailer off the ice and back onto the paved road. But what an adventure!

But even at the end of the day, we both still said it was a great day and a wonderful ride. We really enjoyed ourselves and our horses were real troopers that day. They kept us safe on the trail and were willing and brave trail partners.

Life is Good!!!

The End!

Was It Worth It?

 

(Warning: Grab refreshments and visit the potty. This post is long)

Saturday, my Walking N Circles Horse Rescue friend, Colleen drove over and picked up my trailer and Apache. Ranchman John took the truck with him to Philly and left me with the van. Colleen would have normally picked up Apache in one of her bigger horse trailers, but to conserve gas, after she delivered some her horses and a few of the volunteer’s horses that are boarded at Walking in Circles Horse Rescue, she left her big trailer down at Cedar Hill Farm and drove down in her truck to my house.

It made me laugh to see how excited Apache was to go for a ride. She was standing at the gate pawing at it with her hoof, like “Hurry up, people! I’m ready to go…..where are we going again?” I think she had an idea we were going to head out for a trail ride and she walked right into the trailer, eager to go.

I was surprised at how sad I felt to see her go, even though I knew I would see her soon.

Apache spent the night at Cedar Hill Farm and I drove down on Sunday around noon. I was so excited to see her, that I went directly to the large paddock she was in, and called to her. Even though her paddock was full of deep grass, she looked up when I called and came right over. That made my day!

There were a bunch of other volunteers from the Horse Rescue finishing up their lunch. Some of them had arrived in the morning to participate in a riding clinic. I gathered up all my tack out of the back of my van and took it over to my horse trailer.

I walked over to the gate to Apache’s paddock with her halter and lead rope and was once again happily surprised as she walked right over to me from the other side!

She was calm and relaxed, but I could tell that she understood we were preparing to head out for a trail ride. I tied her to the trailer and groomed and picked out her feet, and then got her all tacked up. A few times she turned her head around nuzzled me as I worked. So stinkin’ cute!

I decided against bringing my 3-step mounting block because I was running out of room in my van, and I knew I had mounted without one at home. It’s always a good idea anyway to be sure you can mount from the ground if you intend to ride trails, especially trails that don’t typically have boulders or stumps readily available, or if you have to open and close gates and your horse isn’t cooperating. I’ll still use my mounting block while at home and during clinics and lessons, just to save strain on my mare’s back, but I must admit it is just so awesome to have a horse I am able to mount from the ground when I want to.

Last week I switched out my Abetta saddle’s cordura stirrup ‘leathers’ for the the real leather stirrup leathers off my Henry Miller Plantation saddle. I don’t like how the Abetta’s cordura feels against my leg or the ‘swishing’ sounds it makes. Also, my Henry Miller saddle’s stirrup leathers are already permanently turned, so my stirrups stay facing forward, and they don’t strain my knees or hips.

I did keep the Abetta endurance stirrups on, though, because they are lighter and less dangerous than the metal endurance stirrups that came with my Henry Miller saddle. I can’t tell you how many times I used to hit myself, or my horse, and then scratched myself, when those metal stirrups became chipped and nicked. No more metal stirrups for me, thank you. 

I do like how well my Abetta saddle seems to fit Apache’s back and barely even moves when I get on. I also checked her back for sweat marks after the ride again just to be sure and saw that there were no dry or rubbed areas. Only her withers were dry, which is the way it should be since the saddle or pad doesn’t touch the withers.

I’ve also noticed in photos and when I’m riding that my Abetta’s stirrup location is much better than in my Henry Miller saddle. I used to keep my legs too far forward in my Henry Miller, because that’s the way my saddle’s angle kept me. It was virtually impossible to sit straight in the saddle, like I do now with my Abetta saddle. I feel more balanced, yet still very comfortable.

I was also so much more comfortable with my latest purchase: Riding Breeches.

Why did I never consider riding in them before? Probably because I ride Western, and most everyone I know rides Western. And most everyone that rides Western wear jeans. So, I just wore jeans like everyone else.

But no more!

Or at least not as often. When I wear jeans I’m always hiking them up before mounting, adjusting them and fidgeting with them in the saddle because they bunch up at the hips, in the crotch, and at my knees. They rub, pinch and chafe and are just so uncomfortable for long rides.

Someone, please bonk me over the head for never considering wearing breeches or riding tights before.

I ordered a pair of On Course Shapely Cotton Full-Seat Riding Breeches through Dover Saddlery last Monday. There are no tack stores near me that sell English riding attire, though there might be somewhere in Albuquerque, because I know there are dressage riders and hunter/jumpers in the North Valley, along the Rio Grande River. But I rarely go to that area of Albuquerque, because of all the traffic and time it takes to get there, so I just ordered online. I didn’t expect my order to arrive before my Sunday ride, but I got a huge surprise when Fed Ex arrived on Saturday afternoon with my box. Hooray!

I was happy to find that the breeches fit well, although just a tad bit short (I’m just shy of 6’ so length is always a problem even when I buy tall sizes). They are also probably just a tad bit big in the waist, but they might shrink some, and I wear a belt with them anyway. But they fit great in the rise because I am long-waisted, and also on my butt and thighs. And they are so soft and comfortable, too. I also ordered, on the recommendation of many of my blogger friends, a fun rainbow colored crop, too. Though I’ve not yet tried it, I’ll let y’all know how it works.

Our group headed out onto the trails and we rode all around the 400+ acres along some of the main trail that was set up last month for the Competitive Trail Ride, so we ended up riding between 6-7 miles in about 2 hours.

The bridge obstacle was still set up, so Colleen encouraged us all to cross it and when it was my turn I just pointed Apache in the direction of the bridge, just like I did for the ATCHA ride when she crossed without a moment’s hesitation…….but this time she cheated me and stepped to the left side of the bridge. (This photo is from Colleen’s camera, but it’s very low resolution, so I don’t know how to enlarge it without making it even more grainy)

 

Colleen invited anyone that wanted to, to try crossing the bridge again, but this time was different. Everyone was behind me and Apache had to walk across the bridge away from the other horses. She balked just a little bit and also tried to step off to the side, but I kept her straight and moved her forward…..and we did it! Yay! And then we turned around and went right back over the bridge to the other side. So fun!

We also went over the log obstacles, which at first Apache tried to evade, but I kept her forward and she completed them, although she tapped a few of them with her feet. (This photo is from Colleen’s Canon Powershot camera and I can’t make it too large because it’s too grainy from low resolution, but I don’t know how to fix it. Anyone know how?)

After riding for a while, we got to the wide open space of the eventing field, and we stopped and took some photos. This is our group. There’s me and Apache to the far right.

That’s Rosie on the far left. She was my steady-eddie that helped give me my confidence back. And Etta Bay (whom I incorrectly used to call Atta Bay) ridden by the gentleman behind Rosie, was the second horse I rode, after Rosie, that helped give me confidence and build my riding skills and horsemanship.

In my previous post (Macro Monday~Creepy Skull), I showed the skull of an animal I found out in that field. You can actually see that skull on the ground, to the right, behind me. I talked Colleen into packing the skull into her saddle bags because her bags are bigger than mine (and mine we’re packed full of essentials, like my water bottle, my camera, chapstick, lotion, knife, gloves, mints…….oh…and course just a few(!) horse cookies. heehee)

I love the expression on Colleen’s face. And the horse she was riding that day, a sweet mare named Bella seems to be saying, “Please don’t make me look at that horrible thing” as she buries her face underneath Colleen’s arm. lol!

But Colleen’s a good sport and always willing to help. Well, at least I didn’t ask her to pack an entire elk home or anything, right? lol!

   

That is the skull of a Wild Boar, not a Javelina, like some of you guessed correctly. If you notice the top tusks in the photos, you’ll see that they point upwards and angle backwards. A Javelina’s top tusks point downwards. So there ya go. Something new to learn, eh?

After we took some photos, several of us decided we wanted to try climbing ‘Donner’s Pass’, which is a 15 foot tall steep hill that goes straight up to a sort of knife-blade thin platform that is probably less than 2’ feet wide.

During the ACTHA event, riders and horses are expected to wait on that platform, at the top of ‘Donner’s Pass’, and count to 5 out loud. ‘Donner’s Pass’ then drops down just as steep on the other side, but only about 9’ down. At the bottom of ‘Donner’s Pass’ is a long thick log that riders are supposed to step over before the obstacle is complete.

If you remember when Apache and I attempted ‘Donner’s Pass’ during last month’s ACTHA event, she had no issues with going straight up that tall, steep hill for me. She even stood at the top for the count of 5. But when we descended to the other side, she decided going straight down wasn’t as fun as going sideways instead, so we never got to cross the large log. We were just Buddy Riders that time, so it wasn’t such a big deal, but I do eventually want to compete together on the ACTHA rides, so on Sunday, we climbed ‘Donner’s Pass’ again….and we made it up to the top, stood for the count of 5, enjoyed the expansive views, and then went straight down…..and crossed over the log!!! We did it! (Another one of Colleen’s photos)

It was far from pretty as I was trying to keep her in a straight line, while also giving her her head and leaning backwards, but we worked together and did it! I was so happy. Apache seemed proud of herself and she received a cookie for that good job, too. We may be ready for next month’s ACTHA ride after all! I love my girl!

While we playing around on the Eventing Field, M and her horse Jackson decided to try out one of the Jump Obstacles. She and Jackson participated in the CHAMP Trail Clinic that I recently posted about. She and her Throughbred/Saddlebred gelding have a special bond.

After they jumped, M and Jackson galloped in a huge circle around the Eventing Field. You could tell they were both having so much fun!

Then we left the Eventing Field and headed back into the trees again.

I do wonder if Apache has a few depth perception issues, though. I notice that she often gets too close to bushes and trees when I’m riding her, usually on my right side. I find that when we’re riding on narrow trails in the trees, I have to be on my guard all the time, or else I’m getting scraped. I try to push her away with my leg and sometimes that works, but not always, or sometimes it’s too late. Colleen recommends turning her into the tree, so that I move away from it and don’t get scraped. Every time I think of trying this, though, the trail seems to narrow or I don’t think of it fast enough. So this is something we need to work on.

Why am I mentioning this, you ask?

Because Apache managed to run me into a bush and tear a hole in my brand new breeches on my first day wearing them. Poo!

A piece of jagged juniper branch was sticking out, hidden by the softer-looking needles, and when we slid past the branch, it grabbed me, ripped my breeches and scraped and bruised my skin. Ouch!

The suede half chaps I ordered last week should be arriving soon, and I think they will make a big difference in protecting my lower leg from scrapes from branches. I also ordered some riding socks, too. On Saturday, I had to wear some old black dress socks with a REI cool max white hiking sock layer underneath.

You can listen to one of the bush debacle scraping incidents happening in this video. (And yes, Apache does this even when I’m not running video or holding my camera. lol!)

 

I turned the video off at the end, not because of my scrape, but because we were just getting ready to climb straight down and across a rocky cliff with a narrow trail covered in boulders and I wanted to pay attention. Apache does a terrific job at picking her way down these sorts of cliffs, though, and I don’t feel nervous or worried at all. And it’s lots of fun and great practice. 

When the ride was done, I took off all of Apache’s tack, brushed her down, and visited with some of the volunteers for a little while until Colleen was ready for me to load Apache for the ride home. Apache was so tired that she just stood beside me, rear hoof cocked, half asleep, with her nose nuzzling me every so often. She was so sweet.

After we got her home, and I fed all the critters, gathered eggs, did some laundry, etc, I started to feel sick and had a terrible headache. I noticed that I had gotten a sunburn all over my arms and I felt dehydrated (note: bring sunscreen and more water bottles next time). (One last photo taken with Colleen’s camera)

When I got back inside, I drank a couple gallons of water (just kidding….almost), ate a snack and took some ibuprofen and then I fell asleep for a few hours. I woke up to feed my kidlets and get them ready for bed and then I went back to sleep myself about 8:30pm.

So, was the trail ride worth the hole in my brand new breeches, the sunburn, the headache, and the exhuastion?

Heck yeah! What a great way to spend the day! 

    

       

    

It’s a Blizzard Out There!

 

Yesterday evening, I brought Apache into the barn for the night because the weather report said we could expect more snow and rain with colder temperatures. I also wanted to take my measure tape up to the barn and see what size blanket I should buy for my mare. Interestingly, Apache was frightened by the measuring tape and jumped and ran away from me whenever I tried to touch her with it. So I decided to desensitize her to the tape, even though I was a little surprised that she didn’t trust me to touch her with it in the first place.

We spent about 15-20 minutes with me just flinging the thin tape on her sides, back, neck, head and legs, until she finally stood stock still and started licking and chewing. Then I began touching her with it using my hands, sliding it all over her sides and back as if I was measuring her. She got nervous again and moved away, so we went back to just flinging of the tape again.

And then I brought out a few cookies and kept reassuring and rewarding Apache while giving her praise, which seemed to work even better to relax her. After another few minutes of that, I moved away from her and went back into the tack room for more cookies, to give her a release from the pressure. Then I came back and started back again with flinging the tape, and moved into rubbing her with it until she stood relaxed, licked and chewed. I was very proud of her and then I was finally able to take her measurements, which were 69”.

I was surprised because that is the size of Baby Doll’s blanket, which I still have. It will be interesting to see how it fits Apache, as she just seems so much smaller than Baby Doll was. Well she’s shorter in height at least, but maybe not in length. I wanted to try the blanket on her, but didn’t want to add anymore pressure  since she had cooperated so nicely in getting used to the measuring tape. I decided to just keep her in the stall for the night instead.

 

Good thing, too, because when I woke up around 3am to use the bathroom, I noticed that there was over an inch of snow on the ground. Thankfully it had all melted by the time I went up to feed everyone. The sun was even shining. But something told me to keep Apache in the barn for the rest of the day anyway. Good thing, too. Because by late morning the skies opened up and it turned into a blizzard up here!

 

 

I noticed that my neighbor D, must have bought a new horse and possibly sold his other three. He’ usually keeps them down in the Rio Grande Valley where he can ride them in rodeo roping events. I felt badly for this new horse, because he probably came up from the valley and isn’t acclimated to our colder spring weather, and his first day here he has to deal with a blizzard.

Can you see him?

  

 

I took these photos from my bedroom balcony glass doors, so I had to zoom in for a better view. See him now?

Poor guy seems to be without any buddies, too. D doesn’t have any real shelter for his horses except for the wall of his yard and a couple short juniper trees to serve as a wind block. When the wind picked up and the snow blew sideways, this poor fellow galloped all over his paddock.

I received an e-mail from my friend Renee this afternoon. She had just gotten home from riding down at Cedar Hill Farm this morning. She said the snow was falling fast and thick and she could barely feel her fingers and toes, but Renee said she had a blast anyway and would do it again in a heartbeat. She’s one tough cowgirl! And that’s the way it is up here in the central mountains of New Mexico, above 7,000 ft.

If you have horses and you want to ride, you’ve got to just get out and do it, or you’ll never get the chance. Our weather can change so quickly. A group of us gals who rode in January, February and March this winter, through snow, rain and wind, call ourselves the Snowy Mountain Cowgirl Club. Seems like a fitting name considering how we get can get snowstorms from October all the way into May, eh?