So. Much. Climbing.

So last we left off with TC's weekly trail riding, I'd said that TC was kind of bored with our short loop at HBR. The short loop is perfect for me though, I can haul out to the trail, do a solid 4 miles, then haul back without ever losing signal and without it taking longer than 2.5 hours. That's pretty awesome. I can easily take a "long lunch" and do that on a weekday (there's also good signal there so I can respond to emails and messages), which opens up weekends for lessons and clinics or giving him a day off and having fun with my family or my SO. 

This last weekend it didn't work to have a lesson with my old trainer, so last minute, we had most of a day free! I decided to take TC out to Calero County Park and let him experience a new trail for the first time in a while!

What I thought was the top when we started climbing

Best pony! We had to duck under that branch up
ahead there

The ride out there was kind of stressful. The roads leading there are a bit narrow and winding and I expected to lose signal for most of it. I just went slowly and it was fine, but it took us about an hour to get over there. By the time we got there, I was the tiniest bit shaken but glad to see that I had signal in the park. 

TC is always on board with whatever emotion I'm experiencing, especially if there's adrenaline involved, so he decided to spook at just about everything getting out to the trail entrance. I had to get off of him to lead him through the entrance because it was very narrow and he likes to bolt through small spaces and I was concerned for my legs. 

We finally got going and he remained a bit spooky. I realized that I don't think he's ever been to this trail facility! Certainly not with me, so the only time he might have gone was on the very few trail rides he did off the property before I rode him (I knew he'd been on at least one trail ride at HBR) so mayyybe he'd been there, but it would have been 6.5 years ago. He did eventually settle, mostly because of how exhausting the climbing was. 

One side of the reservoir

The other side!

I had looked up some trails there and found a loop that was relatively short, about 3.5 miles, and the trail guide said that it was "moderate" which is also what our normal loop is classified as. TC would like to report that this trail was STRENUOUS the first 30 minutes. 

We walked up and down some relatively steep rolling hills, then we climbed for like... twenty minutes at least, maybe thirty. And the hill (mountain??) was no joke, it was steep! We got to what I thought was nearly the top but turned out to be about a third of the way there. Then we did another third to what I again thought was the top, nope. And finally we reached the actual top and there was an option to do a longer loop and climb even more! TC and I both decided to not go on that loop. 

Coming down was great though, although wow do I just adore this horse on the trail even if he spooked at every rock that was out there just for funzies. He is 0% afraid of bicycles and 100% interested in putting his head into every cyclist's business. The trail was rather narrow for bikes to pass us, so we frequently had to step very slightly to the side and let them pass. I mean, if I was a weirdo and wanted to pat the cyclists on their helmets as they passed, I would have been able to do that without having to lean over. We probably passed at least 10 bicycles like this! Such a good egg. 

I love the green hills 

There were people fishing in this small pond and
TC has never seen fishing! He was worried at
first but then wanted to go over to them

The only non-rock he spooked at was a couple of people who didn't understand horses. They stopped, which I don't require but I understand that they might feel more comfortable stopping. Then the woman decided to take her polite-ness to another level and step behind the man. She obviously didn't want to disturb the horse, so she very very slowly and quietly creeped up the hill behind the man. 

To TC, she was obviously a mountain lion. I apologized and had to ask her to stop moving, which they didn't hear or something, but they did start walking along the path again so that's good. 

We got done and as much climbing as that was, he was not even sweaty! It wasn't super warm and it was a bit windy, so that probably helped. But I'm glad that he's getting so much stronger with all this trail riding. 

I think the constant in and out of shade made him
spook at the rocks, light and shadows is hard for him

My favorite trail partner

The drive back was uneventful and I felt more confident driving back, so that's good. I think we need to do this more often! Go to new facilities and go on new trails. It takes a little longer and is less predictable signal-wise, so we probably can't go on the weekdays, but certainly if we trail ride on the weekends, we'll be out at new facilities. 

And he's strong enough now where I don't worry that much about accidentally going on a trail that's too rigorous/hilly. He can handle it as long as we keep up the good work on the trails! 

Behind Brown Ears

On Sunday I drove down to the bay after riding TC around bareback to attend one of my favorite little festivals. It was probably not the best thing to do because all I did was walk around feeling VERY aware of the fact that I had just acquired a horse trailer and signed up for another show. I did get a snow cone though, worth it. And I got to give Rico some attention as well.

He's feeling really quite fit for an old guy due to how much he canters around in his pasture and despite moving away (only 2.5 hours), I want to hang out with him this summer as much as I can.

Such a happy pony!

 So, Monday morning, my parents and I loaded him, Sunny, and Riot up in the trailer and headed out on a trail ride. My mom was a bit nervous about Sunny, so I offered to switch with her if things went south.

The trail facility is one we've been to a lot, but they opened a new entrance, so to Rico, it was brand new. He unloaded and immediately was really excited to be in a new place. He hasn't been in a new place since he was hospitalized a year and a half ago!

I hopped on him bareback and we opened the gate for the other two heading out. All Rico wanted to do was charge up the hill, which was hilarious. Around the first bend, he saw a giant rock, which he was terrified of. Then he opened another gate for us, wrestled with me about wanting to trot up the hill (he was not allowed), spooked at another rock, then we started to settle.

Not the most scenic trails, I bet it's beautiful when it's green!

So excited to be at a new place! Oh man can he get on that
underneck...

Unfortunately, Sunny decided to be a bit of an ass and spook at a jogger and it made my mom a little nervous, so I offered to switch with her. I felt bad because she feels more comfortable in a saddle, but I don't have a saddle for Rico so I had just grabbed a bareback pad. Apparently Rico "exudes calm" and even though she was more nervous on Sunny in the saddle, she clambered onto Rico and they both had the best time!

I had a little less fun on Sunny, who went to spin at a bike with me and then had to walk VERY close to all of the other bikes and joggers and people that we saw. He also was very rude about wanting to catch up, shaking his head and trying to take off a bit. We had a discussion and by the end he was much better.

Rico had a lot of fun with my mom, mostly keeping up with Riot and jogging to catch up when he got left behind. He got sweaty, but wasn't completely exhausted by the end, so it was a good loop for him.

Riding the naughty pony

Even though I didn't ride him that much, I was still so happy to get him out and doing stuff. He's 22 this year, which isn't all that old necessarily, but with his neck arthritis and previous illness, I'm really impressed with how well he's doing.

Looking forward to more trail rides with him this summer! Maybe we'll get back to the beach too.

Unexpected Trail Ride

On Saturday morning, I was unexpectedly included on a trail ride with my parents. I had planned on heading down so that I could pick up a few things that I needed and had forgotten when TC moved, so I let them know that I'd be down there sometime in the morning. That morning my mom and I texted and she made it clear that she wanted me down there before they left on their trail ride. I was kind of confused, but figured that she wanted to keep an eye on me so I wouldn't take stuff she didn't want me to (wtf though).

Love these ears

So I finally got down there and gathered a few things. I put them in a pile and went to hang out with Rico while my parents got their horses ready. My mom called across the barn to my dad to brush his horse so they could leave. I was just mindlessly poking at Rico and telling him that I was going to pull him out of retirement, which I threaten him with on a regular basis, especially with TC being obnoxious. But then my mom calls to ME to seriously get my shit together and brush my horse. What?

Yah apparently my mom thought it was heavily implied that I was going with them. She didn't ask me! But apparently she and my dad talked on Friday and Saturday morning about trail riding me. If she had given me a heads up, maybe I would have brought my boots or my comfy dressage saddle. Luckily I carry a helmet and back brace in the car (which I know is not good due to heat but hey it's better than nothing). So I obliged, of course.

Look how FUZZY he is! He looks like a stuffed horse

Rico was super stoked to get in the trailer and head to one of his favorite spots. He is kind of obnoxious to load in the trailer now when the other horses are going. Once as he sees the trailer, he starts getting all chargey. I've started sending him in without me walking in first, there's no way I'm getting between that horse and his trailer.

What a nice morning it was on Rico. I do miss riding him. It's kind of mean to admit, since was my only horse for so long, but I find that I don't really miss him when TC is doing well. There is a lot to love about TC when he's being good- he is more willing than Rico, he is (was) less ornery than Rico, he genuinely wants to work and learn. But boy do I really appreciate that I've already been through the rough times with Rico. Rico is always the exact same horse. Always. No matter what situation he is in, no matter how much or little work he's had, no matter where he lives or what the weather is like. The same.

Aww pony

We got to the park and I ground tied Rico in the middle of the parking lot. Because I can. And also there are only two tie spots on the tack room side of the trailer and I don't like being so far from my tack. Which was a hackamore and bareback pad. But still. I threw the tack on him and led him to the mounting block.

I had to sit on him for a bit while my parents got their horses tacked up (since they like, use saddles and real bridles), so Rico entertained us by "spooking" at a sign and a few large rocks. This is what Rico does when he gets amped, he doesn't get hot, he doesn't buck (although I got a couple of rears out of him when telling him he couldn't spin), he fake spooks at shit in slow motion. I know it's fake because when he really spooks, you can feel his heartbeat and he gets a very scared look in his eye. And he's not the sort of horse to really put a lot of effort into doing anything, so he snorted at the rock and then slowly spun around to get away from it.

Skeptical about rocks

I made him piaffe and passage in the parking lot just to torment him. If he has the energy to fake spook then we can certainly play. He's always willing to piaffe, but the passage is a little harder for him. Interesting, since the piaffe was never very easy for him. And i know it's actually good piaffe because my SIL came out to ride him and piaffed him for me (she's ridden like ten times and piaffed my horse on her own, I dunno if I posted about that, my horse is awesome).

Out on the trails, Rico was excellent. He's just the best horse. He tends to get left behind, since Riot is a TWH so his walk is HUGE and Stretch is always on a roll. Rico also struggles physically with being forward while walking downhill, he just sits down too much, which makes him very comfortable to go downhill on, but it makes him slow. I let Rico trot and canter to catch up sometimes, which is entertaining for me since my parents like to mostly walk. Rico sometimes takes this too far though. There was a dried up riverbed that we had to walk through (both on the way out and on the way back) and both times, Rico was left behind going downhill and he leapt over the riverbed and cantered up the other side, shaking his head and getting all sassy.

Riot and Stretch look thrilled to have to walk by each other

Overall, it was just so nice to have a fun, stress free, thinking free ride on a steady horse. I think I need to get Rico out some more this winter. I live an hour and a bit away, but it's so nice to get some perspective and just be able to RIDE without thinking.

That was the theme of my lesson on Sunday. I need to stop thinking and just ride (ahaha I remember telling my AAs the same thing- just RIDE, but you know what, it's a lot harder when you ride ONE horse 4x per week vs 8-10 horses per day). But I'm still figuring out how to write that post because a lot came out of it and I need to figure out what I'm comfortable sharing right now. But just know that it went really well, I'm really glad I had her out.

Just a Flesh Wound

Yesterday I messed up my SI something good at crossfit because I'm dumb and my core isn't as strong these days because I'm not sitting a bouncy trot on a regular basis. My dumbness didn't stop me from trail riding Rico yesterday (with an ice pack in my camelback and tylenol in my body), which was amazing. I feel like the knight from Monty Python. It's just a flesh wound! Where is my horse! I'm fine! It's a scratch! Give me the pony!

He did get a little sore (me too), so he got some bute yesterday and today. He looked so tired this morning, but that's his fault because he insisted on powering up the biggest hill there and then refused to complete the loop, wanting to go further. We did about 5 miles (4.9 miles exactly). His normal trail rides are maybe 3 miles at the most, probably more like 2.5 miles.

Look at his porky butt dimples! This horse is not
the sexy Grand Prix horse he was six months ago. 

Today I woke up feeling very slightly better than yesterday so took that as a sign that horses cure back pain and medicated myself so I could ride TC.

He was once again harassing the camp horses by the fence when I got there. I stood and watched him for a while. There was a girl braiding one of the horses and TC would stick his face in between her face and the braids and just STARE at her. She kept pushing his nose away and he'd wait a few seconds, then do it again. Apparently he has also been trying to unbridle the horses. What am I signing myself up for? He is a terror!

I took him out and he got to watch 14 kids eat lunch in front of him. He's always so good to brush and tack up when there is entertainment. Today he didn't yank his feet out of my hands and he only tried walking off when I was putting his bridle on, meaning that his noseband was a bit looser than normal (which I paid for dearly later, he was a little strong).

I love trail riding him

All the kids were doing their horse show today so the main arena was taken up (we watched a little bit and it's hilarious watching tiny kids ride). I wasn't enthused about going next door though, because my back was so questionable. Ali came out on her western horse (the cutter who lives with TC) and suggested we go out to the field. TC hasn't been ridden out there in a bit because when I don't ride at home, I usually go to the neighbor's.

He was actually really excellent out there. It was just enough of a different place where he was forward but not so exciting that he was too tense. We worked at the trot, but with me feeling kind of blah and no shows coming up, I kind of just focused on big figures and keeping him on the bit. Nothing interesting. I wanted to do transitions but every transition I did resulted in a twinge down my left leg (HATE sciatica) so I kept those minimal.

Ever since my position revamp last week, the left side is getting better. Today I noticed that I wasn't leaning so far off of my right seatbone. This may be due to my SI joint being so shaky on the left side that I couldn't lean into it! Either way I'm taking it. Going left is still tricky, but he's figuring it out. He doesn't seem to ignore my left leg quite as much and bend is becoming less of a far off magical element of dressage.

It's so dry out there, but still pretty!

The canter was pretty good given what I've had recently, more of the same complaints from last time. He's not all that balanced, he gets a little fast, he struggles to maintain roundness, all that stuff. He's still doing better than he was before we played over those poles, but it feels like we're so far away from having a normal canter. I'm sure it's not, because whenever I see video of his canter it's always like "wow not bad" but I don't like the idea of things looking pretty but feeling shitty. So it's time to really tackle the canter.

I'm going to longe on Sunday for sure and work the canter in the chambon for the first time. Then Monday I'll canter him undersaddle again and see how much it helped. I am toying with the idea of trying side reins on the longe or draw reins undersaddle as well. I know that's sometimes a controversial thing (the draw reins, I don't think too many people get all huffy about side reins), but I don't care.

He does get backed off and short in the neck in the canter, but I'm pretty damn good with a pair of draw reins so I may try to see if I can get him to lengthen and lower his neck in them. But first chambon though, then side reins, THEN draw reins since obviously I'd rather not go there if I don't have to. To this date he's only ever had a chambon on him and only on the longe, I think I've done a pretty good job getting him started on the roundness without any real artificial aids to help me (except spurs!! So necessary).

I'm letting his mane grow out because I'm lazy

There were some cavallettis out there that we popped over a little bit and we trotted the logs too. He seems to like jumping a lot. I think next year I'll look into getting some jumping lessons again so that he can actually jump more than just poles on the ground and 12" logs. He seems to like the jumps, but I don't want to mess him up over fences. Plus he's so slow growing that I think another year will be good for him to make sure all those joints are solid. Ugh and his feet. But that's a post for another day.

Overall I was really pleased. Mostly that my back didn't completely break down after riding a bouncy unpredictable horse, but also that he was so good in an arena that wasn't our home arena. Baby steps!

Tomorrow I get to watch L kick ass at her show. This will be the first H/J show I've been at in a while so it should be a blast! I know this post is going out late but if anyone is going and wants my number too, email me (regentanzer at gmail) and I'll send it to you.

Then Sunday my brother and SIL are coming down for a lazy day after I longe/ride TC. Should be a nice relaxing weekend while my back heals up a bit. I'm going to try not to ride any horse but TC. Oh and my client's horse tomorrow. And probably another client's horse on Monday since she's gone this week. But that's it! Unless one of my favorite horses needs a school on Tuesday because he's been being a jerk in the left lead canter. But THAT is it.

Finally got into the shade about 4 miles in