Riding season

Autumn is my favourite time of year for riding. There is a sense of completion - things have been done for the year; the garden has produced and been harvested, the firewood for the winter is in the woodshed, the projects envisioned have been (mostly) completed, the foal is weaned, the mares are bred, now it's time to just enjoy the beautiful crisp mornings and sunny days that are the prelude to winter.

Moondance is doing really well. He has had a stress free weaning and seems to enjoy having his own space where he can still hang out next to "his" mares, and talk to his daddy on the other side of the alley. He follows me around politely while I pick up his manure piles and put out his feed. He is a gentle colt, and it makes me happy every time I look at him. 

I ponied him again along the dyke, this time he followed along without any resistance as we wound through the bush trails, crossed logs, saw a grouse, and covered his longest distance yet.

I invited a friend along and went up to the local arena to work on Gussie's softness and transitions; sometimes it's good to give the older horses a refresher. Always love the view at that arena, it's right up at the base of the Skimmerhorns.

The next ride was back at the airport trails with friends, it was supposed to be a large group but there was a mis-communication and they went on a different route, so it was just me and the 2 ladies I had been riding with as we took to the airport trails, but both groups met up for lunch at the Golf Course restaurant, where we are allowed to tie our horses to the trees while we eat on their outdoor patio, Good burgers, by the way!

Hay fields at the end of the airport

The hill is steeper than it looks

Relaxed horses and riders on a beautiful day. This is what trail riding is all about- just enjoying.

The squeak of saddle leather and the sound of hoofbeats. All is well!

Gussie seems to be getting over her reluctance to get in the trailer, I think she enjoys getting out on the trails as much as I do. Previously she would get in and right away turn around and face rearward, so I hauled her like that, but the last couple of times she let me tie her in at the front, which is good as I need to be able to close the divider when I go on my next ride as I will be hauling another friend's horse. 

For the record, I don't argue with a horse once they are in the trailer- that is a recipe for getting hurt or killed. I'm always cautious about loading. The only problem with this type of trailer is that it's risky getting up in that corner to tie them in. If they try to turn and leave before you get the tie done you can get mashed. It always helps if there is another person to swing the door almost closed while you tie so that the horse doesn't think about leaving as Gussie is doing in this photo- she was wanting to turn and face the rear. Horses are naturally claustrophobic so I totally understand, being that way myself!

Riding days 40, 41 and 42