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!
1 comment:
Woo! On the leg yields-i hear ya! I was missing bits of my knees from the rain forest ride!
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