So I was told recently by a firend that they do not understand why I am so bruised and injured. I have a whopping bruise on my leg from getting hit by a tree on the mountain ride, another bruise from being hit by the same tree when we were going the other way (yah, I know, I should have seen it the second time, I'm not that bright, apparently). I have blisters from wearing the wrong pants the other day and now I have a huge welt on my shoulder from a hornet that stung me when I rode through their little hornet procession.
Horseback riding is dangerous, which is why I always wear my helmet. Obviously I need a body protector too.
But I'm happy to report that Pip has no injuries, didn't bruise his feet on the mountain ride, didn't get knocked by any trees, and wasn't stung by a hornet. That last one is important, becuase we both would have been hurt if he'd been stung. I was certainly pretty frantic to get the damn thing off me, I can't imagine the antics that Pip would have used to get both me and the hornet off him.
So as long as I have health insurnce I'm happy to take the injuries for Pipper.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Here's Pip in the mountains. We rode into the wilderness yesterday. It was Pip's first mountain ride, and let me just say he exceeded expectations! He lead most of the way to the meadow here (about 5 miles from our start) and only had a few minor spooks. The biggest problem was that we need to work on leg yeilds so that I can avoid large trees thwacking my legs.
The second best thing about the ride (after Pip being fabulous) was the very very good idea of bringing beer with us so we could have a drink when we were done! We usually ride in to this meadow, untack and let the horses have lunch, and we have a snack. Next time we will bring a beer for us.
Overall it was a great experience, and one that Ihad actually been dreading. Before Pip, I had a wonderful OTQH who was beautiful but a bit unpredictable. He had dumped me many a time on the trail; some good reasons some non-existent, as far as I could tell. He was tall and willowy, more TB than QH, but just gorgeous. But a really long way down from 16.3, I tell you. I am glad I always wore a helmet. But back to Pip, I was a little freaked out that I would have a crazy unpredicable experience with him, as that's kind of what I'd learn to expect from Eli. And the cantering we'd done in by the river had been strong and bucky before the training. I honestly hadn't ridden a lot after Pip was in training, as his mouth was too badly injured from the summer sore(almost gone!) and I didn't feel completely safe alone with the hackamore. But as previous posts indicate, I did ride some. Saturday before the ride, I went out with Amanda, Phil and their horses, and we had a great ride. Canter, hand gallop, trot, it was all good.
So when when I mounted yesterday at the trail head, I was nervous, I tells you. Pip is good, he has a very rideable spook, if that's possible. But he was pretty keyed up and was looking at everything, and not really paying attention to me. As we started, he had to lead, absolutely had to. Didn't want anyone in front of him, and he walked fast. Fast enough that Tango had to break into his Tennessee Walker flat walk to keep up. And he stayed in front, almost the entire time; and he didn't really spook at all. (jus once when he went after some cows who, in running away, kicked a bit) After a little while I had enough confidence to just let Pip do his thing, which when you have steep rocky trails, is really the safest way to travel. On our way back, he was actually travelling on a loose rein, even when cantering, and was really listening to my legs. I was still in the hackamore, but I was sitting up, sitting still and not worrying. Pip wasn't too worried either. But we do still have to work on leg yeilds at speed, because this bruise is nasty!
When we got back, we did have beer, and the horses got to rest up a bit before we hauled them back to the barn. We'll be going again in a few weeks, probabl doing on overnight or two (yay!) to get in lots of mountain riding. It was such fun, I can't wait to have another great ride! I'd recommend it for all horses and riders. Except for that tree, which has marked me, hopefully not forever!
Overall it was a great experience, and one that Ihad actually been dreading. Before Pip, I had a wonderful OTQH who was beautiful but a bit unpredictable. He had dumped me many a time on the trail; some good reasons some non-existent, as far as I could tell. He was tall and willowy, more TB than QH, but just gorgeous. But a really long way down from 16.3, I tell you. I am glad I always wore a helmet. But back to Pip, I was a little freaked out that I would have a crazy unpredicable experience with him, as that's kind of what I'd learn to expect from Eli. And the cantering we'd done in by the river had been strong and bucky before the training. I honestly hadn't ridden a lot after Pip was in training, as his mouth was too badly injured from the summer sore(almost gone!) and I didn't feel completely safe alone with the hackamore. But as previous posts indicate, I did ride some. Saturday before the ride, I went out with Amanda, Phil and their horses, and we had a great ride. Canter, hand gallop, trot, it was all good.
So when when I mounted yesterday at the trail head, I was nervous, I tells you. Pip is good, he has a very rideable spook, if that's possible. But he was pretty keyed up and was looking at everything, and not really paying attention to me. As we started, he had to lead, absolutely had to. Didn't want anyone in front of him, and he walked fast. Fast enough that Tango had to break into his Tennessee Walker flat walk to keep up. And he stayed in front, almost the entire time; and he didn't really spook at all. (jus once when he went after some cows who, in running away, kicked a bit) After a little while I had enough confidence to just let Pip do his thing, which when you have steep rocky trails, is really the safest way to travel. On our way back, he was actually travelling on a loose rein, even when cantering, and was really listening to my legs. I was still in the hackamore, but I was sitting up, sitting still and not worrying. Pip wasn't too worried either. But we do still have to work on leg yeilds at speed, because this bruise is nasty!
When we got back, we did have beer, and the horses got to rest up a bit before we hauled them back to the barn. We'll be going again in a few weeks, probabl doing on overnight or two (yay!) to get in lots of mountain riding. It was such fun, I can't wait to have another great ride! I'd recommend it for all horses and riders. Except for that tree, which has marked me, hopefully not forever!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
The Arrival
Well, it seems that Pip and I have finally arrived! We went out on a trail ride and Pip was great. One buck getting the canter, but I think this is due to the saddle somehow. Either the latigos are bugging him, or it's not fitting just right. Which is a drag, since I'd had it made for hi, but you know, that's the joy of putting a static thing on a living, dynamic animal. But I think my Aussie saddle will fit him just fine.
We're going up into the mountains next weekend, so we'll see how the two of us do with hills, dales and rocks!
We're going up into the mountains next weekend, so we'll see how the two of us do with hills, dales and rocks!
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