So today after work I decided to take a ride with Stanley on the trail. Today was the start of Trail Riding 101. The goal is to make Stanley the best trail horse before the beginning of Summer. :D And be ace in endurance, he is, after all half Arabian.
This is his first time out on the trail for a few months, so I didn't expect him to be a pro.
Though when I took him on the trail, after 3 minutes of trotting through the canyon he was panting and heaving. So I had to reduce him down to a walk. Maybe he got his dad's endurance...meaning a long few months of building up endurance. Also, when he is with other horses he is fine, when he is alone, he thinks everything is gonna attack him, which I don't mind, makes the trail ride more fun. He, with his tail held high, neck arched and ears forward. Way more responsive with leg pressure. Unlike the arena, where is is dead to all my responses.
NO FEAR! WE WILL DO IT!!!!! :D It will be an inspiring story! hahaha oh yeah.
Back to the ride today. Back tracking when we went through the neighborhood, a guy on the corner built a new fountain a few weeks ago. When its not on, he is fine, and today it was on, so I"m like 'oh Stanley won't mind, he went past it so many times'.
How I was SO wrong. I'm walking up to it with Stanley and Stanley just freezes up, so I kick him and tell him to go forward. He ducks to the left and tries to turn home, I try again, same thing. So I'm telling myself, I'll just cross on the other side of the street. NO. He put on his brakes.
I think he thought that the fountain was an evil monster or something that was out to attack him. Bless him for being on his guard. Yeah I think he loves me enough to protect me. <3 (Its because I put pretty ribbons in his mane, give him treats, brush him, sing him songs, etc.)
(NO..the gray rock is NOT A monster..its the fountain coming alive, and the strings on his head, is water. lol)
I finally dismounted and lead him past it it a few times and he calmed down and didn't even make a fuss. Yeah, Stanley is the type that needs someone in front of him to make sure its all clear before he strikes out on his own. hahaha
We come down to the canyon, and pick up a nice trot for awhile until we came to the river. It has been snowing the past weeks so it was fast flowing but shallow. Stanley had crossed it before, so I expect no problem. It took the guy a few tries before he got in. Which consisted of sniffing, hesitating, and then leaping in awkwardly, and going through the stream, do twinkle toes all the way through (picking his feet up high out of the water). Finally we reached the other side and Stanley gladly went up the bank, and then snorted. I think he was pleased that he crossed it. He totally showed the stream who is boss. lol
"LIKE A BOSS!"
So we pick up a nice trot on the flat part and Stanley figures out, this is not so bad, and the ride was very pleasant. Up ahead was a log. YIPPE!!! small jump. So I urge Stanley forward, we come closer and he puts on his breaks, and backs up fast then halts and stands stock still looking at the log. I calm him down and walk him forward, he doesn't want to go over it, so I take him around the log and show the other side. Then urge him over it, he goes over it.
What I have learned so far, Stanley needs to be shown the whole thing before he takes action. Its like a jump, if he has time to analyze it, he will decide whether its easy or hard. Runout or jump. Or have someone in front of him showing him the way.
Back to the story, we pick up a nice trot again, going our way. And then we come to,
*Epic Dramatic Song*
GALLOP HILL!!!!
So I expect Stanley to take off and run all the way up, he did the lower part, then went into a trot the rest of the way up. I think he was a little tired from the encounter with the fountain, and then striking on the trail alone and doing a trot up and down hills. Tho once he felt better, he picked up a canter again. Then reaching a flat section he slowed down to this awesome smooth trot! Pure Paradise.
When up ahead I SAW something move. So I slow Stanley down and look, and its a skinny coyote eating a BONE!!! THE COOLEST THING IN THE WHOLE DAY SO FAR! A real coyote. And Stanley and I just stared at it, and it stared at us, chewing its bone before he disappeared in to the bush. TOTALLY COOL!! So I had to call my older sister and twin sister and my dad and tell them the story.
The rest of the trail ride to the road was fine. Trotted the whole way until the flat section on the top where I put him into a gallop till we came to the trail head, jumped the barrier and went to a walk all the way to the barn.
Before we reached the barn, we had to pass the fountain again. YIPPE! This time it was all colorful.
Stanley passed it once and will do it again perfectly. Nope, he balked and went right into the road. Road + Horse = Trouble and I'm thinking, great not again. And this time Stanley worked up such a nervous sweat. So I dismount and walk him past the fountain several times to show him, it won't attack us. He seems to accept that fact. So I mount him, and walk him past it, perfect! He is slowly learning.
I'm so proud of him! He saw it doesn't eat him! don't get me wrong, beautiful things can be dangerous.
We got to the barn with no more trouble and by then it was way cold, and I'm worrying about Stanley getting a cold. So after I untack him, I rub him down.
He is not getting dry at all. So I grab a towel, throw it over him and walk him up and down the barn aisle, because it was cold outside and I didn't want him to get a cold becasue his stall has a turnout with it.
AFter an hour of rubbing, brushing, walking, freezing my hands and toes. Stanley is finally dry! I feed him and his friends. Cache and Rex, give Stanley a candycane and then relax in the tack room around a heater, trying to defrost my hands and toes, which were blocks of ice. (I swear it I couldn't move them that well.)
My stomach growls and it time for me to go home and eat my mothers WONDERFUL food. Pasta and Sauce. YUM!!!!!
So I say good bye, give Stanley a huge hug and a kiss and tell him, "REST UP, tomorrow I'm coming back" but he was to occupied with stuffing his face with food to listen to me. What can I say, he loves to eat! :D Which makes him my special boy! :D
That was my amazing FANTASTIC DAY!!!!
