Marehaven Farm
Longmont, CO
Trail Riding
Nice rides and good lessons
March 26 / 2008 06:51 PM
Jane and I have been
going on some nice trail rides with Belle and Kelton,
both of whom are doing great. They love getting out
and seeing the sights. We've been sticking to fairly
easy, flat trails, but I look forward to getting up
in the mountains with the Fjords later this Spring.
I've been taking Kelton to dressage lessons and we're doing pretty well, although I worry about how much of that sort of work is good for Kelton's old injury. So far, so good, but I know I should be working her more regularly in between lessons to help develop her fitness level.
I go back and forth over what degree of work is best considering that I don't want her to come up unsound again. I can see the benefit of having her work correctly, so that she uses her hind legs evenly on both sides and goes straight, rather than falling over the left shoulder, but I also know that it's hard work for her. As much as I'd love to be able to progress in dressage and go to some shows, I don't want to sacrifice Kelton's soundness to get there! And I really enjoy trail riding her. I guess I'll just continue to see how it goes. I'll have more time for regular riding this summer.
I've been taking Kelton to dressage lessons and we're doing pretty well, although I worry about how much of that sort of work is good for Kelton's old injury. So far, so good, but I know I should be working her more regularly in between lessons to help develop her fitness level.
I go back and forth over what degree of work is best considering that I don't want her to come up unsound again. I can see the benefit of having her work correctly, so that she uses her hind legs evenly on both sides and goes straight, rather than falling over the left shoulder, but I also know that it's hard work for her. As much as I'd love to be able to progress in dressage and go to some shows, I don't want to sacrifice Kelton's soundness to get there! And I really enjoy trail riding her. I guess I'll just continue to see how it goes. I'll have more time for regular riding this summer.
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Muddy ride
February 10 / 2008 06:13 PM
Ready to ride the range in search of lost calves
February 06 / 2008 05:23 PM
A friend and I rode at
Boulder Valley Ranch today, despite the serious wind.
I guess we were both in bad need of a trail riding
fix because the weather was rather less than ideal!
At times the wind howled so loud we couldn't even
hear each other speak, and at times we walked through
a mist of blowing white snow that nearly obliterated
the trail. But we persisted! And the horses were
awesome despite the conditions.
We were riding in weather only a cowboy would normally ride in, so we figured that since we survived that, we're pretty much ready to ride the range and look for lost cattle. Kelton and Belle beg to differ.
We were riding in weather only a cowboy would normally ride in, so we figured that since we survived that, we're pretty much ready to ride the range and look for lost cattle. Kelton and Belle beg to differ.
First trail ride of 2008
January 14 / 2008 07:21 PM
We got out on the
trails today, at last! I met Jane at the trail head
for Pella Crossing and she rode Ivy while I rode
Kelton. The weather was perfect -- sunny and
comfortably cool -- and the trails were mostly clear,
with some snow left in the shady spots. Kelton was a
little high-headed but overall very well behaved
considering she hasn't been out on a trail in about
two months. Ivy was a star, as usual!
I can't wait to get out again, the next time the weather cooperates.
I can't wait to get out again, the next time the weather cooperates.
Winter trail ride
November 26 / 2007 08:36 PM
The weather was finally
nice enough today for us to hit the trails, even
though they were still a bit muddy and snowy in
spots. Jane and I met Fran at the trail head for the
Left Hand Valley trail, which is quite close to me
but I'd never been to before. I didn't even know it
was there! The trail goes south into Boulder Valley
Ranch, which of course I've ridden many times.
I rode Kelton, Jane rode Ivy, and Fran rode her trusty mare while ponying her chubby gelding for some exercise. The trail has lots of gates to open, so Jane and I had some fun trying to get Ivy and Kelton to figure out how to do it, but they will clearly need some lessons. When we couldn't get the job done, Fran stepped up to do it with the gelding in tow -- pretty impressive!
It's nice that this trail is so close, but I think I like riding out from the Eagle trail head better because then you can do a loop rather than an out and back. But it was nice to be out on a ride, regardless!
I rode Kelton, Jane rode Ivy, and Fran rode her trusty mare while ponying her chubby gelding for some exercise. The trail has lots of gates to open, so Jane and I had some fun trying to get Ivy and Kelton to figure out how to do it, but they will clearly need some lessons. When we couldn't get the job done, Fran stepped up to do it with the gelding in tow -- pretty impressive!
It's nice that this trail is so close, but I think I like riding out from the Eagle trail head better because then you can do a loop rather than an out and back. But it was nice to be out on a ride, regardless!
More solo trail rides on Kelton
November 23 / 2007 05:13 PM
I've now taken Kelton
out by herself a number of times, all to Pella, and
she has been super. She walks as fast as equinely
possible at first, but she remains attentive and
responsive to me and doesn't do anything silly. After
about five or ten minutes I start working on things
like stretching down into contact, leg yielding,
shoulder-in and so on, and she does everything I ask
while remaining nicely forward. She's cooperative and
responsive in the arena, but even more so on the
trails, and that makes it a fun place to do some
schooling. We also sometimes just cruise along on a
long rein and enjoy the scenery.
I probably won't have the chance to trail ride much over the holidays, but I look forward to getting her out on some more solo rides after the break. And I'd like to try some new places. I think she's my best solo riding horse, even though she's the biggest! I guess I better teach her how to open gates, since I won't have a friend on a short horse to get off and open them for me.
I probably won't have the chance to trail ride much over the holidays, but I look forward to getting her out on some more solo rides after the break. And I'd like to try some new places. I think she's my best solo riding horse, even though she's the biggest! I guess I better teach her how to open gates, since I won't have a friend on a short horse to get off and open them for me.
Finally found a saddle!
November 20 / 2007 10:03 AM
Several, actually.
After trying a variety of treed and treeless models,
I've ended up with these three: Barefoot Tahoe,
Barefoot London, and Treefree Exmoor. The Treefree is
on order, but I've been enjoying riding in the two
Barefoot saddles. It took some fiddling with padding
to get them to work, esp. on Belle, but now they seem
to work quite well. I particularly love the feeling
of the London. It's both secure and incredibly cushy
and comfortable. At last!!
Still riding... but having a heck of a time finding a saddle!
November 10 / 2007 10:42 PM
Riding the pony express
October 22 / 2007 08:41 PM
The weather was so
perfect today that I decided to ride Kelton out from
the farm to the trail at Pella Crossing. The ponds
are particularly beautiful right now, with the trees
changing colors and the mountains in the background
capped with snow. Kelton was very good and we even
managed to get in some schooling in walk/trot
transitions.
I had such a good time on Kelton that when I got back, I decided to get on Belle and head out again. Belle was also very good, although she had to stop and stare a few times. We trotted around an entire pond and that was enough for me, but I think Belle could've kept going and going. She's an energizer pony!
I was having such a good time that when I got back to the farm, I rode past my house and down the driveway to get the mail. Belle cocked an ear towards the house, but then motored on forward, curious about what we were doing. I got off to check the mailbox, which was full, and then somehow I managed to hold all the mail in one hand and get back on Belle, who happily carried the mail (and me) back home!
I had such a good time on Kelton that when I got back, I decided to get on Belle and head out again. Belle was also very good, although she had to stop and stare a few times. We trotted around an entire pond and that was enough for me, but I think Belle could've kept going and going. She's an energizer pony!
I was having such a good time that when I got back to the farm, I rode past my house and down the driveway to get the mail. Belle cocked an ear towards the house, but then motored on forward, curious about what we were doing. I got off to check the mailbox, which was full, and then somehow I managed to hold all the mail in one hand and get back on Belle, who happily carried the mail (and me) back home!
First solo trail ride on Belle also went great
October 21 / 2007 12:22 PM
Yesterday I wanted to
test out a new demo saddle (a Treefree), but I didn't feel like riding
in the arena, so I figured I'd see how far Belle
was willing to go away from the farm before she
got worried about the other horses. At home she's
always aware of where the others are, and if I
haul a horse away in the trailer she's the only
one that will trot down the fence line and call to
the horse. So I thought we might not get very far,
but she just motored on down the driveway and then
across my south neighbor's property without so
much as an ear cocked backwards at the farm.
So I figured I might as well try going over to the ponds. I had to cut through a cow pasture, getting off and on twice to open gates, and Belle stood still for me to get back on. She was totally unconcerned about leaving the other horses, which really surprised me. We had a nice ride around the ponds and even did a fair amount of trotting, which felt great. And I love the saddle!
As long as the gates are closed, it'll be much easier to ride Belle off the farm than Kelton, given that Kelton is two hands taller, so I'm just delighted at how well Belle did. She's just an all around super trail pony!
So I figured I might as well try going over to the ponds. I had to cut through a cow pasture, getting off and on twice to open gates, and Belle stood still for me to get back on. She was totally unconcerned about leaving the other horses, which really surprised me. We had a nice ride around the ponds and even did a fair amount of trotting, which felt great. And I love the saddle!
As long as the gates are closed, it'll be much easier to ride Belle off the farm than Kelton, given that Kelton is two hands taller, so I'm just delighted at how well Belle did. She's just an all around super trail pony!
First solo trail ride on Kelton went great!
October 13 / 2007 09:48 AM
I've been wanting to do
this for a while, but yesterday I finally got Kelton
out on our first solo trail ride. She did great!
I chose to ride her at Pella Crossing, the trails that go around the ponds behind my house, but I hauled her over to the parking lot rather than riding out from my farm. I figured that had two benefits: first, I wouldn't have to get off to open the two gates in the cow pasture. And second, I wouldn't have to worry about the horses calling to her, although I think she'd be OK with that part. Once the cows are gone and the gates are left open, I'll try riding her right out.
She looked around a lot while I was tacking her up, but I could easily get her attention back to me. So I felt comfortable enough to go ahead and get on, and we set off towards the eastern loops. She was hyper aware of everything and had her head high and ears forward, and she was walking as fast as equinely possible, but she didn't feel spooky or nervous, just alert. We motored around the eastern loops in record time! I love to feel that huge forward walk offered naturally.
We crossed the street to ride the western loops and she slowed down a little, so I figured we could try some trotting. We trotted around a loop, then walked a bit, then trotted some more. She gave me a wonderful huge trot that was so fun to ride! And she listened to my very light requests to come back to the walk. Even though she was very alert the whole time, she never spooked or shied and she was very responsive to my aids. I love this horse!!
I'd like to work up to doing this regularly and doing more schooling on the trail, like walk/trot transitions, flexing/counterflexing, lateral work, etc.. Kelton has a good work ethic and works well in the arena, but she works even better in my front pasture. And even better, I think, on a trail ride where there's always somewhere to go (instead of just around and around).
But I know solo trail riding has its risks, so I'll only ride where I have cell phone service, where the footing is flat and easy, and where there are usually people around. I also want to get an ID tag for Kelton's bridle and make an "identification/contact numbers" sheet to keep on me when I ride. It's so peaceful and meditative to be out there alone with the horse that I think the risk is worth it, provided I take precautions!
I chose to ride her at Pella Crossing, the trails that go around the ponds behind my house, but I hauled her over to the parking lot rather than riding out from my farm. I figured that had two benefits: first, I wouldn't have to get off to open the two gates in the cow pasture. And second, I wouldn't have to worry about the horses calling to her, although I think she'd be OK with that part. Once the cows are gone and the gates are left open, I'll try riding her right out.
She looked around a lot while I was tacking her up, but I could easily get her attention back to me. So I felt comfortable enough to go ahead and get on, and we set off towards the eastern loops. She was hyper aware of everything and had her head high and ears forward, and she was walking as fast as equinely possible, but she didn't feel spooky or nervous, just alert. We motored around the eastern loops in record time! I love to feel that huge forward walk offered naturally.
We crossed the street to ride the western loops and she slowed down a little, so I figured we could try some trotting. We trotted around a loop, then walked a bit, then trotted some more. She gave me a wonderful huge trot that was so fun to ride! And she listened to my very light requests to come back to the walk. Even though she was very alert the whole time, she never spooked or shied and she was very responsive to my aids. I love this horse!!
I'd like to work up to doing this regularly and doing more schooling on the trail, like walk/trot transitions, flexing/counterflexing, lateral work, etc.. Kelton has a good work ethic and works well in the arena, but she works even better in my front pasture. And even better, I think, on a trail ride where there's always somewhere to go (instead of just around and around).
But I know solo trail riding has its risks, so I'll only ride where I have cell phone service, where the footing is flat and easy, and where there are usually people around. I also want to get an ID tag for Kelton's bridle and make an "identification/contact numbers" sheet to keep on me when I ride. It's so peaceful and meditative to be out there alone with the horse that I think the risk is worth it, provided I take precautions!
We saw a bear!
October 11 / 2007 09:11 PM
My friend Donna and I
went riding today, as we're trying to do every
Wednesday, but today we saw something neither of us
had ever seen on a trail ride: a bear! We were on the
Big Bluestem trail, which is southwest of Boulder and
is part of a large network of trails through the
foothills. We were up in the pine trees, moseying
along, when Donna spotted the bear about fifty yards
to the right. It was looking at us but didn't look
concerned.
For a second I thought about whipping out my camera to take a shot (and now that Belle and I have not been made into Bear Snacks, I wish I had). But what we did instead was get off the horses and start walking away quickly while making lots of noise (Donna was singing "Old McDonald Had a Farm" and I was reassuring the bear that we had no interest in bearskin rugs). After a bit, we decided we were out of harm's way, so we got back on.
The horses were never bothered, even though they could see (and presumably smell) the bear, so maybe they can sense when a bear is having aggressive thoughts vs. "where should I take a nap" thoughts?
For a second I thought about whipping out my camera to take a shot (and now that Belle and I have not been made into Bear Snacks, I wish I had). But what we did instead was get off the horses and start walking away quickly while making lots of noise (Donna was singing "Old McDonald Had a Farm" and I was reassuring the bear that we had no interest in bearskin rugs). After a bit, we decided we were out of harm's way, so we got back on.
The horses were never bothered, even though they could see (and presumably smell) the bear, so maybe they can sense when a bear is having aggressive thoughts vs. "where should I take a nap" thoughts?
Lovely fall ride
September 28 / 2007 08:56 PM
We had a lovely ride
today at Caribou Ranch, just north of Nederland. The
aspens are turning yellow and the weather was
perfect. I rode Ivy, Jane rode Belle, and some
friends rode their own horses. We spent nearly all
day there. It was so nice! I still have more trails
to explore in this area, but so far I think that's my
favorite.
Little Ivy out walked (and out trotted) all of the others. She's little but mighty! I just added a photo of us in front of the aspens to Ivy's page.
Little Ivy out walked (and out trotted) all of the others. She's little but mighty! I just added a photo of us in front of the aspens to Ivy's page.
Turning 40
August 29 / 2007 08:49 PM
What a nice way to
spend my 40th birthday! A friend and I went up to
Caribou Ranch and rode nearly all day. I rode Belle
and she was super. We got to do some cantering along
an old road way, which is just about the perfect
spot. And we stopped for lunch at a picnic table and
let the horses graze. I added a photo to
Belle's photos
page.
My first solo ride on Kelton
August 26 / 2007 09:37 PM
I wanted to ride Kelton
today but didn't feel like working in the arena, so
rode her up and down my driveway and then out through
my neighbor's pasture. I can't easily get through to
the ponds right now because the pasture I ride
through has cows on it, so I'd have to open and close
two gates. And I don't know how I'd get back on
Kelton after that!
She was a little worried about walking away from the herd, and as we got pretty far out she asked me a few times if maybe we shouldn't go back and check on everyone, but she listened to me when I told her we needed to go a little further before we'd turn back. She is such a good girl!
She was a little worried about walking away from the herd, and as we got pretty far out she asked me a few times if maybe we shouldn't go back and check on everyone, but she listened to me when I told her we needed to go a little further before we'd turn back. She is such a good girl!
Are they twins?
August 26 / 2007 08:16 PM
On Saturday my friend
Jane and I rode at Sawhill/Walden Ponds east of
Boulder. She rode Belle and I rode Ivy. This was the
first time I'd been out with two Fjords at the same
time, since I usually ride Kelton when I ride with
Jane. It was funny how many people asked us if the
horses were twins! I really wish we could've gotten
someone to take a photo of us together. That would've
been cute.
The trails are flat and wind around a series of ponds, with lots of trees for shade. We rode for about two hours but with the various loops you could make a longer ride.
At one point we stopped to use the restroom and when we went to mount again, Jane wanted to find something to stand on. So she positioned Belle next to a park bench and then turned to me and said "If I can't get on Belle from here, then I've got real problems!" (Belle is 14h). Then Jane proceeded to slip off of the bench! Somehow her left foot just slid off the edge and she ended up sitting on the bench, unhurt but practically doubled over in laughter. I laughed so hard I nearly had to pee again.
So then I positioned Ivy next to the same bench and said the same thing, that I better not have any trouble getting on her from there, but then I very nearly threw myself over the other side. It took a fair amount of effort not to just fall off. I guess I misjudged how much energy it would take to get on a 14h horse from a park bench!
When necessary, we can each mount the Fjords without anything to stand on, but it's nice when you don't have to put all that weight into one of the stirrups.
I added a photo of me on Ivy to her photos page.
The trails are flat and wind around a series of ponds, with lots of trees for shade. We rode for about two hours but with the various loops you could make a longer ride.
At one point we stopped to use the restroom and when we went to mount again, Jane wanted to find something to stand on. So she positioned Belle next to a park bench and then turned to me and said "If I can't get on Belle from here, then I've got real problems!" (Belle is 14h). Then Jane proceeded to slip off of the bench! Somehow her left foot just slid off the edge and she ended up sitting on the bench, unhurt but practically doubled over in laughter. I laughed so hard I nearly had to pee again.
So then I positioned Ivy next to the same bench and said the same thing, that I better not have any trouble getting on her from there, but then I very nearly threw myself over the other side. It took a fair amount of effort not to just fall off. I guess I misjudged how much energy it would take to get on a 14h horse from a park bench!
When necessary, we can each mount the Fjords without anything to stand on, but it's nice when you don't have to put all that weight into one of the stirrups.
I added a photo of me on Ivy to her photos page.
Another nice ride
August 22 / 2007 02:14 PM
I rode part of the
South Boulder Trail today with Donna, who rode her
gorgeous draft cross gelding. I rode Kelton and even
did a little trotting and cantering with her, which
I've never done with her on the trail before. It was
fun! We also played around a little in the creek.
Kelton had no trouble going in, walking around, and
having a sip, but she also likes to splash a lot
(which I hope doesn't mean she'll try to roll!)
The trail has lots of bridges and lots of joggers and bikers. Kelton doesn't blink an eye at the people or bikes, but she had to give some of the bridges a good sniffing. Then she'd go across (in the lead). She was also a little cautious about going through a highway underpass, but did just fine. For a horse that hasn't been out on trails in over two years, she's doing great!
I put photos of Kelton in the parking lot and by the creek on her photos page.
The trail has lots of bridges and lots of joggers and bikers. Kelton doesn't blink an eye at the people or bikes, but she had to give some of the bridges a good sniffing. Then she'd go across (in the lead). She was also a little cautious about going through a highway underpass, but did just fine. For a horse that hasn't been out on trails in over two years, she's doing great!
I put photos of Kelton in the parking lot and by the creek on her photos page.
Nice local trail
August 19 / 2007 01:10 PM
This morning my friend
Jane and I explored a new trail (to us). Another
friend had told me that the trail looked kind of
boring, but I thought it was pretty nice. It's called
the Niwot Trail, and it's just a few miles south of
where I live in Longmont.
Jane rode Belle and I rode Kelton because I thought it would be a good one for her (not too hilly or rocky).
The trail is wide and follows gently rolling hills, with a few bridge crossings and a few shady spots. We only explored probably about half of what's there. The end loop winds around a subdivision with big fancy homes, so that gave Kelton some things to look at. And that's pretty much all she ever seems to do. She'll raise her head and perk her ears and really look, but she doesn't spook or spin or try to run or anything like that. At least she hasn't done anything like that so far! When Kelton's ears prick up and she starts to look, Belle will also start looking around, as if to ask "what is it? what are we worried about?" But Belle never seems to actually locate the object of concern, since it's not an object of concern to her! She does still cock her head at ditch pipes, however!
The thing that bothered Kelton the most was when we came around the subdivision and saw some kids playing volleyball in their back yard. There were several balls in play, going up and down constantly, and Kelton wasn't entirely sure what kind of horse-eating monster that might be. So she had to keep her head and ears up and her eyes on the balls until we passed them. I wonder what the heck she was thinking that might be?! After we passed that, Kelton went back to walking on a loose rein.
I added a photo of today's ride to Kelton's photos page. The photo was taken on the top loop of the ride, which looks kind of barren except for the beautiful mountain range in the background. Further down the trail is more green and has trees. I look forward to doing it again!
Jane rode Belle and I rode Kelton because I thought it would be a good one for her (not too hilly or rocky).
The trail is wide and follows gently rolling hills, with a few bridge crossings and a few shady spots. We only explored probably about half of what's there. The end loop winds around a subdivision with big fancy homes, so that gave Kelton some things to look at. And that's pretty much all she ever seems to do. She'll raise her head and perk her ears and really look, but she doesn't spook or spin or try to run or anything like that. At least she hasn't done anything like that so far! When Kelton's ears prick up and she starts to look, Belle will also start looking around, as if to ask "what is it? what are we worried about?" But Belle never seems to actually locate the object of concern, since it's not an object of concern to her! She does still cock her head at ditch pipes, however!
The thing that bothered Kelton the most was when we came around the subdivision and saw some kids playing volleyball in their back yard. There were several balls in play, going up and down constantly, and Kelton wasn't entirely sure what kind of horse-eating monster that might be. So she had to keep her head and ears up and her eyes on the balls until we passed them. I wonder what the heck she was thinking that might be?! After we passed that, Kelton went back to walking on a loose rein.
I added a photo of today's ride to Kelton's photos page. The photo was taken on the top loop of the ride, which looks kind of barren except for the beautiful mountain range in the background. Further down the trail is more green and has trees. I look forward to doing it again!
My first time ponying a horse
August 14 / 2007 01:52 PM
I've never ponied a
horse before, other than for about ten minutes in an
arena, but I needed to get three horses to a trail
head today and I only have a two horse trailer. So I
decided that my friend Jane would ride Belle, and I'd
ride Kelton and pony Ivy. I figured if we got down
the road and things got hectic, we could always turn
around and call the people we were meeting at the
trail head. Or I could've gotten off and led both
Kelton and Ivy by their halters. But it all went
well! I have no idea if Kelton has ever ponied a
horse before, but I know Ivy's never been ponied, and
they both acted like old pros.
We had to ride through a cow pasture that now has cows in it, so that meant we had to open the hot wire gate on one end and a metal gate at the other. That was pretty uncomplicated on the way out because the cows were well out of the way, but on the way back the cows were crowded around the hot wire gate. So I pointed Kelton and Ivy towards them and we pushed the cows away! I'm pretty sure neither of them have ever done that before. Then, because Jane needed both hands to handle the hot wire gate, I ponied both Ivy and Belle through the gate and up the driveway a bit. I can see how ponying could go really wrong, but I'm glad everything went right today! I look forward to ponying Britta on some trails.
I put a photo of me ponying Ivy off of Kelton on Ivy's photos page. I also added a photo of Laura riding Ivy.
We had to ride through a cow pasture that now has cows in it, so that meant we had to open the hot wire gate on one end and a metal gate at the other. That was pretty uncomplicated on the way out because the cows were well out of the way, but on the way back the cows were crowded around the hot wire gate. So I pointed Kelton and Ivy towards them and we pushed the cows away! I'm pretty sure neither of them have ever done that before. Then, because Jane needed both hands to handle the hot wire gate, I ponied both Ivy and Belle through the gate and up the driveway a bit. I can see how ponying could go really wrong, but I'm glad everything went right today! I look forward to ponying Britta on some trails.
I put a photo of me ponying Ivy off of Kelton on Ivy's photos page. I also added a photo of Laura riding Ivy.
Kelton goes to the mountains
August 12 / 2007 10:02 PM
Today a friend and I
took Kelton and Belle up to Caribou Ranch, a fairly
new trail north of Nederland (which is west of
Boulder). It's a really beautiful area and a super
nice trail. The trail winds through trees and
meadows, and the footing is mostly flat, with a few
gently sloping hills, so it's good for Kelton.
We rode out to an old homestead and stopped to have some snacks while the horses grazed. We just put their lead ropes over their backs and let them munch -- they didn't go far! The weather was just perfect. What a fun day!
I put photos from the ride on Kelton's and Belle's photos pages.
We rode out to an old homestead and stopped to have some snacks while the horses grazed. We just put their lead ropes over their backs and let them munch -- they didn't go far! The weather was just perfect. What a fun day!
I put photos from the ride on Kelton's and Belle's photos pages.
My first trail ride on Ivy
August 11 / 2007 08:55 PM
I got Ivy back from the
trainer's a few days ago, so I decided to take her
out on a trail this afternoon. She was super! She's
pretty relaxed and is a lot slower than Belle. Her
steering needs some work, but I think she'll be the
type that anyone can ride, whereas Belle needs a more
confident rider who won't mind her energizer pony
outbursts.
Kelton goes exploring
August 07 / 2007 03:11 PM
I took Kelton to Teller
Farms today with a friend, and she was very good. The
trail is pretty wide but climbs gently upwards, which
was hopefully good for her hind end. I don't know why
I thought she wouldn't be good on trails, especially
since I trail rode her during my test ride. I think
it's just that she's so big and powerful, but it
turns out she's an awesome trail horse. Now I wish
I'd gotten her out sooner, but better late than
never! We're also still schooling low level dressage,
and I may show her at Training Level in
September.
Belle goes horse camping
August 06 / 2007 02:08 PM
I spent this past
weekend up at Jack's Gulch, a "horse campground" west
of Fort Collins up in the mountains. I took Belle,
and we had a great time! I went with three other
people, and we shared a camp site that had four pipe
corrals for the horses. We rode for almost four hours
on Friday, over five hours on Saturday, and about an
hour on Sunday, and I think Belle had as much energy
at the end as she did at the beginning. She's such an
energizer pony! Some of the horses were very green,
and one rider was very green, but they all did very
well. We climbed hills, picked our way over big
rocks, navigated a variety of water crossings, and
wandered across large grassy meadows. The horses that
didn't have much trail experience before this trip
are old pros now!
I've just added a few photos from the trip to Belle's photo album.
I've just added a few photos from the trip to Belle's photo album.
Nice Labor Day trail ride
August 04 / 2007 08:53 PM
I went with a group of
horse friends, some old, some new, to the Big
Bluestem trail south of Boulder and we had a lovely
ride. Jane rode Belle and I rode Ivy, and I even got
to canter Ivy for the first time, although only for a
short stretch. I look forward to doing that again. I
finally got a photo of the two Fjords together on a
trail, which I put on Ivy's photos page.
Kelton hits the trails
July 27 / 2007 05:15 PM
I've now taken Kelton
to the ponds four times, and she's doing super! I
even trailered her over there once, to meet someone
at the trail head, and she was so relaxed. I wasn't
sure how she'd be if she left home alone, but she
wasn't concerned at all. I feel so comfortable on her
that I'm almost tempted to ride her to the ponds
myself, but I'm just not sure riding alone is a good
idea. She seems to be staying sound, but the trails
are flat and easy. I might take her to somewhere with
similar trails but more hills just to see how she
does. The only drawback to riding Kelton on trails is
if I have to get off. It's hard to get back on such a
big horse!
Cantering down the trails
July 22 / 2007 10:40 AM
I took Belle up to the
Nederland area (in the mountains west of Boulder)
yesterday for a trail ride with a woman I met online.
The trail, at Caribou Ranch, is just the kind I like.
Mostly dirt, with some small rocks that are easy to
avoid, and lots of shade. It was already about 14
degrees cooler up there than down below anyway, but
the shade on the trails made it even cooler.
The woman I rode with was on her six year old QH and she was ponying her seventeen year old Arab, just to get him out for the exercise and enjoyment. He was excellent at being ponied and just followed right along, no matter what gait we were going at.
The woman has done a fair amount of endurance riding with her Arab, so she's used to trotting and cantering on the trail. I like to do that too, but only when the trail conditions are just right and when I'm on a horse I trust. Both of those things were true yesterday, so when we came to some particularly suitable spots on the trail, we would trot.
Belle has an amazingly fast trot. When we came to a part of the trail that's an old service road, Belle was trotting so fast that Jennifer's horse had to canter to keep up with her, so I went ahead and asked Belle to canter (or rather, granted her permission, as she'd already asked me). Boy she can fly! But I think she was having as much fun as I was. Her canter is unbelievably smooth and easy to ride, and requires less effort than riding her trot (which is also very smooth, but it's hard to post that fast!)
Belle led almost the entire way and was only concerned about a wood bridge. We went past some ditch pipes, which she cocked an ear at, but nothing more, so maybe she's over that. It might just take a few more trail rides with bridges to get her over that too, but I might have my handyman build me a bridge just to have around.
We ended up trotting the last mile or so of the trail back to the trailers because we were trying to outrun a storm with lightening that was just behind us. Belle hasn't done that much "going" in who knows when, but she barely took a heavy breath. With conditioning, I think she just might do OK at competitive trail riding!
I think I must've relived the joy of galloping my pony as a kid when we cantered along the road, because I had so much fun! I don't often ride with people who are comfortable trotting and cantering on trails, so I really enjoyed the opportunity.
The woman I rode with was on her six year old QH and she was ponying her seventeen year old Arab, just to get him out for the exercise and enjoyment. He was excellent at being ponied and just followed right along, no matter what gait we were going at.
The woman has done a fair amount of endurance riding with her Arab, so she's used to trotting and cantering on the trail. I like to do that too, but only when the trail conditions are just right and when I'm on a horse I trust. Both of those things were true yesterday, so when we came to some particularly suitable spots on the trail, we would trot.
Belle has an amazingly fast trot. When we came to a part of the trail that's an old service road, Belle was trotting so fast that Jennifer's horse had to canter to keep up with her, so I went ahead and asked Belle to canter (or rather, granted her permission, as she'd already asked me). Boy she can fly! But I think she was having as much fun as I was. Her canter is unbelievably smooth and easy to ride, and requires less effort than riding her trot (which is also very smooth, but it's hard to post that fast!)
Belle led almost the entire way and was only concerned about a wood bridge. We went past some ditch pipes, which she cocked an ear at, but nothing more, so maybe she's over that. It might just take a few more trail rides with bridges to get her over that too, but I might have my handyman build me a bridge just to have around.
We ended up trotting the last mile or so of the trail back to the trailers because we were trying to outrun a storm with lightening that was just behind us. Belle hasn't done that much "going" in who knows when, but she barely took a heavy breath. With conditioning, I think she just might do OK at competitive trail riding!
I think I must've relived the joy of galloping my pony as a kid when we cantered along the road, because I had so much fun! I don't often ride with people who are comfortable trotting and cantering on trails, so I really enjoyed the opportunity.