Monday, April 14, 2008

Trail ride


We finally got great weather here in Oregon. Almost 80 degrees on Saturday. I tried to organize a trail ride at the barn to no avail. Our barn is a lot of arena riders and it really is hard to convince people to ride outside despite the miles and miles of trails. I went out alone and I had to hop off and do some groundwork to get her checked in a couple times, but for the most part she did pretty well for being on her own. It wasn't the ride I dreamed about on my way to the barn, but we made it work. On another note, I finally got Maddy to jump the barrels. She knows how to roll exercise balls and she watched me roll out the barrels, so whenever I would try to jump her over the barrels, she would kind of pause and roll them with her knees. I realized she considered the barrels to be something she rolled and jumping them had never crossed her mind. I put poles on each side so they wouldn't roll and when I lunged her around, I was ready with my stick and didn't let her pause and she went right over them. Did it a few times both ways and she even picked up the right leads on the landings...really was cool.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess that is the difference in riding in the arena and outside of it. I liked your story and the mane shot. LOL.

Callie said...

Good! It's sounds like a successful ride and day!

Anonymous said...

Good for you for going out anyway. (I hope you had your cell phone, just in case.)

I've never seen or heard of a horse rolling barrels. Very interesting. She must be a smart girl to figure out that you meant to jump them. Great mind!

I'll bet you get some of those arena riders to start going with you, especially as the weather gets better.

Molly said...

It is funny how arena riders like the safety of their fence while their horses would be so much more energized by a nice hack through the woods. You did a good job for your lovely girl. And nice that she finally got the barrel idea.

Rising Rainbow said...

I have horses who love to play with barrels, I can imagine what was going through her mind. lol

Anonymous said...

Nice "rider's eye view" photo. Your trail ride sounds lovely. I'm hoping to hit the trails here in a couple more weeks (still a might chilly most days - it's been a cold spring in MN)

20 meter circle of life said...

Hey maybe if it ever gets really nice we can do a blogger ride at the Mission

Pony Girl said...

If only those arena riders knew how healthy a trail ride can be for those arena horses' minds....and the rider's minds, as well! ;) I prefer a balance between both, although these days, I'm leaning towards the trail! If it'd ever stop raining long enough to get out there!

Jessica said...

I'm so glad you and Maddy got out on the trail. I know that seemed almost unimaginable during that long time of stall rest.

Kristine said...

Great "From the Saddle" shot! :)

EquineSpirit said...

LOVE the photo! Sounds like ya had fun despite being on your own...

learninghorses said...

Hey-I'll come up for that blogger ride 20 meter!

Well Julie, CONGRATS on two things-1. Getting out there. What a journey it has been and you are doing it! 2. Problem solving. It is amazing how sometimes just a slight adjustment makes all the difference.

On a side note, I work with the dogs in the arena after I feed (I can close it off) and in 1 week I taught Marshall to roll the barrel (love the clicker). I'm trying to get Steinbeck to stand on top while Marshall rolls-won't that be hilarous? Maybe we can get Steinbeck and Ellie to be on the barrels-that would be double terrier trouble!

Strawberry Lane said...

Love that photo! It's enough to make me forget cleaning the tack room and hit the trail.

Oh yes, the arena riders. I was one myself for years. Then my husband said .. he wasn't a carousel rider. To ride with him, it was the trail or nothing.

So, I got up the courage to leave the ring. That was years and many wonderful trail rides, ago.