My Kuntry Girl and I got to go on a trail ride with some friends of ours. This was my second time on a trail ride with her and I have to say, I think I did better on the first one. But that was a whole year ago and this trail was different.
The first trail ride we ever went on was really fun and even though there were a couple of scary things like mud and posts sticking up next to the trail, that was nothin' compared to yesterday's trail!!
Here we are last year...don't I look like I'm being such a good boy? I'm even standing in WATER! That's right! Horse swallowing WATER!
Looking back at this picture, I can't BELIEVE how brave I was last year! And I didn't even know Kuntry Girl all that well then. I think I had only known her for about a month when we went on this ride! I can't believe I trusted her enough to go in that scary water for her. But I guess she was right...nothing bad happened, other than me getting my pretty feet a little muddy.
Here I am getting all ready for our ride yesterday. Since Kuntry Girl's English saddle doesn't fit me that well and she's not good enough at bareback yet (trust me) to go for a whole trail ride, her friend was nice enough to loan us this saddle. Don't I look pretty cute as a cowboy? :)Well, I guess it's a good thing that I'm cute 'cause Kuntry Girl was not too happy with my antics on the trail, that's for sure.
I kinda think I have a good defense though. See, this was a brand new area for everyone so the girls didn't really know which trails to hit. They were gonna start out just riding along the power lines...I liked this plan, 'cause it was nice and open. Well, that only lasted so long until we came to a gate and couldn't go any further. The girls soon spotted a trail off to the side though and decided to give it a try. Well, I was not too happy with this. This trail was SCARY!!! First, we had to climb this hill that had roots and stumps and scary leaves all over. Plus, it was really dark and there were scary branches hanging over the trial. The trail was really weird too...it would go up, then dip down, then back up...and in different directions. I didn't know WHAT I was supposed to be doing or WHERE I was supposed to put my feet. I was really starting to get nervous. And sometimes, it felt like the ground was giving out from underneath me. I was not a happy horse. Thankfully, the girls put a halt to this business very quickly. But then we still had to get back out the way we came in. Oh man, I've never been so happy to see daylight and a clear path. Phew. I was so excited that I pretty much ran over the horse in front of me to get to it. I know, I know...rude, huh? I just couldn't help it though. I was FREAKED OUT. And when I'm freaked out, I'm not graceful. I'll totally admit that, ok? I'm not ashamed.
After a while of walking back up the power lines I finally calmed down a bit. The girls decided to head back a different direction and give a different trail head a try. Thankfully, this one was much better, although right at the beginning there was a log that I felt the need to (clumsily) jump over rather than lightly step over. Ugh. I tell ya...these girls had it in for me. But after that, it was pretty much ok. A few low hanging branches, some weird things in the brush, but nothing to terrible. Until we came across....the puddles. Oh, the horse-manity of it all! Why me?!
Even though I've been fine with water in the past, today was NOT the day to spring puddles on me. I tried my best to steer clear of them and in the process managed to ram Kuntry Girl's knee into a tree and then almost get her impaled on a low hanging branch. Thankfully, her shirt took the brunt of that encounter, although I did hear some curse words come out of her mouth, so I'm thinking that she might have gotten a little scratched up too. Sorry Kuntry Girl...it wasn't intentional. Despite you trying your best to remind me, I just forgot you were there!
Needless to say, after this fiasco Kuntry Girl was not too happy. But we continued to trudge along...until we came to an area that looked like there used to be a puddle there. There wasn't any water per se, but I could tell there used to be. And I just didn't like the look of that mud. Horse eating mud, it was. I'm sure of it.
Seeing her frustration with my behavior, Kuntry Girl's friend offered to hop on me. Well, I sure was in for it then. She's really good at showing horses who's boss and she finally got me through that mud. Although I still think I did my best to show her my displeasure.
As a result of this switch Kuntry Girl got to ride her friend's "Mercedes sedan" horse with the cruise control...I was a little jealous and tried my best to keep Kuntry Girl in my sights whenever they were close to us.
But I was also a bit distracted by the little spitfire on my back taking the opportunity to teach me a thing or two about how to act on a trail. At one point that little buger even dismounted to give me a little lesson on going through the puddles. Man, oh, man. What a day. I was SO happy to get back to my pasture, I tell ya.
But now that I've had a day to think about it, I guess it was pretty fun. I have a feeling I might be a little more comfortable next time, since I didn't, ya know...die out there yesterday.
I overheard Kuntry Girl telling her friends that she's gonna try to get some trails cut through our woods over the winter so we can work on all this together. I happen to know that there's a creek back there and I'll bet she's gonna make me go through it. Uh oh. Well, who knows...maybe it could be fun. Maybe.
Oh Caspian! You remind me so much of Brandy! Although Brandy is a lot better than she used to be, I still can't believe I EVER took her on trail rides the first few years I had her. I totally understand the water, mud and log stuff! Brandy is over her mud and log issues, but still fights water from time to time. She doesn't crowhop on the trails like before either. She does get claustrophobic on the darker, woodsy trails, which sounds like what happened to you.
ReplyDeleteI have faith in that you will be a great trail horse! It took 3 years to get Brandy to where she is today, and she still isn't perfect, but a little spunk is good!
BTW, you look really good in a western saddle!
Aww Caspian, it's takes a real horse to admit when he is scared. I think you did well and I'm sure Kuntry Girl will make that path to the creek and you know what?, you are gonna love it.
ReplyDeleteLoved the western saddle, it suits you.
Caspian you look HAWT in that western saddle! I'm sure you're probably not all that fond at me still, but I had a lot of fun riding you! I hope your mom enjoyed her ride on the "Mercedes" *SNORT*. We will definately have to do it again soon!
ReplyDeleteWa mare here Mr. Prince C,
ReplyDeleteI hear ya on the creek and hills trails..man my kacy girl takes me on those... I and fit to be tied going down hills too much...my saddle rides up on my withers and I got sooo mad the last time..I lunged at another horse. I also agree with you...if someoine is in the way run them over! She calls me the trail boss hoss for good reason!
So glad you made it through that mess of a day Caspian. Your girl loves you and know that she is looking for better trails...overall, it was good for you to show her your patience.(mostly)
My Kacy has never allowed anyone else to get on me save one trainer..I almost got her off too.
Better trails to you Caspian!
Washashe
Caspian, speaking of yer pretty feet, have you read the Arrows of the Queen books by Mercedes Lackey? They are a series of books about a race of sentient white horses (like you will be, in color I mean, you are already quite sentient!).
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, in the books, someone is describing one of those horses, and says, "Silver white coat, grey hooves..." and the horse says, "WHAT! Did you say grey hooves? My hooves are SILVER!" and the person stood corrected.
Great books for people who want to understand talking horses, I recommend them to horse people. They would be a pleasure for your owner to read, I am sure, if she hasn't already.
°lytha in Germany
(I must assume she has already read _A Horse and His Boy_, based on your name. Bree was as opinionated as the stallion I mentioned who insists his feet are silver.)