It rocked.
The new barn manager, Compass, and I went out for a ride this morning. She's been under a ton of stress since taking over the livery and me, well, I'm all about going for a ride any time. Estes was full of P&V and ready to move out and Compass's horse, Eli, hadn't been out for a while. Needless to say, we moved out at a fairly brisk clip, but still managed a walk (of sorts). We headed out over to the Beaver Ponds and along the way found some purty fluers...
We didn't know what the big white flowers were, but when we got back, Mom told me they were a type of wild rose. And I've never seen so many wild Columbine flowers in one place. It was incredible. I was having too much fun to take pictures, but noticed that the water has receded a lot and not much of the trail is underwater any more. Bummer. I love riding through water.
We ran into a couple of hikers also out enjoying the trail, but as soon as we cleared the hikers we had nothing but a flat, sandy stretch of trail ahead of us. Compass suggested we move up to a canter from our power walk. I agreed, but made her go first in case I made an absolute fool of myself. In the two years I've owned Estes, I've never moved her up past a trot or her nice Morgan gait. Fact is, I'm a bit afraid to turn her loose. I know that she's fast, but she's also quick, and I know that at any point in time she can leave me. It's by her good grace that I'm allowed to stay on her back.
It was amazing!!!!!!
We slowed down at one point and Compass pointed out that my lead rope had come undone and was dragging, so I tied it back up and away we went again. Why, oh, why did I wait two years to try this?
I'm pretty sure Estes enjoyed it every bit as much as I did, as it took a while to calm her down. Once she got going, by God, she was gonna stay going.
Can't wait 'til Tuesday when I'm back up here for another ride.
8 comments:
Its one of those times, very few and far between. But when they happen? Its BRILL!!!!!!
Whoo-hoo!!! Isn't it awesome to do something fun that doesn't kill you?!
I love that euphoric feeling of knowing your horse cares about you (enough not to leave you on the trail) but is also enjoying herself too! KUDOS for cantering! I know it can be a scary thing - and it sounds like you rocked it!
I cannot wait to go riding with y'all. Compass is coming too, right? :)
Hopefully we'll be able to drag Compass away from the livery. And now that she's in charge, we know that your horse will be well taken care of.
Very exciting - what fun and how liberating!
Way to GO Girl!!!!! Proud of you!!! Now wait till ya try it bareback... ;) hehehe
LOVE it when we have those rides!
- The Equestrian Vagabond
Oh yay, so happy for you! Isn't it just awesome when you finally get up the nerve to canter and it turns out your horse has a beautiful gait? YAY!
"and I know that at any point in time she can leave me. It's by her good grace that I'm allowed to stay on her back."
Oh my! That's exactly what I think about everytime I'm on a horse's back. Because, seriously, we are only permitted to ride any horse, if they allow it. I'm always honored and am respectful when they do.
Cantering is so much fun! I'm so glad you cantered on Estes. So fun!
I never got up the nerve to canter on my first horse, Baby Doll. I could barely ride her trot. It was choppy, and not collected at all. Felt like we were soaring. If the trot felt like that, I was terrified of what the canter would have felt like! And Baby Doll was known to buck when she ran fast and felt good....or even when she wasn't happy with the way you rode her. I wasn't a good enough rider to ride her canter correctly, so I'm sure she would have taught me a lesson and bucked me to the moon!
It's great when you ride a forgiving and patient horse, and one that is kind enough to want to show you a good time without having you fall off. lol!
So happy for you!
~Lisa
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