Blazing New Trails

I have been one extremely busy girl! I have so many stories to tell. But I will start with a ride that we went on last week. Brandy's previous owner, C, was finally able to make it up for a ride with my sis and I. C still has 2 older horses that she has had literally forever. They are Ginger, who is around 35 yrs old, and Krissy, who is around 26 years old. She has owned Krissy for 24 years. Brandy grew up with those horses. Ginger can't really be ridden anymore, Krissy is ok to ride, but I told C to just come up and ride Fritzy, so she didn't have to haul her trailer up here. Plus C and I worked together, and she is unemployed too, so instead of filling up her truck, she only had to bring her car. She lives approximately 45 minutes away from me.

We get to the trail head at 11:00 a.m. We knew the temps were going to reach the low to mid 80's, so we thought we'd ride for a couple hours. Here is C, on Fritzy, before we headed out on the trails.



I was laughing at my sister, because she was tying a sweatshirt onto her saddle. I asked her what she was doing "Why do you need a sweatshirt?" Her response "Well, if we get lost, I won't freeze at night, like you will!" You are so funny Pony Girl! You think I will get lost out here? Remember, I am the one who knows the way around! But I do know you should always be prepared for any situation while out on the trail.



We in a very serious dry spell right now. It was so dusty on some of the trails. It was making our throats scratchy, the horses were coughing. Yuck! I think we probably ended up with a couple of inches of sand on us by the end of our ride!



We somehow decided to try to find a local lake that you are supposed to be able to ride too. C used to ride these trails all the time. But it's been awhile. She thought she could get us there. We ended up on a paved road, that sort of looked like it was the road to the lake. But the farther we rode up the paved road, C said she thought she knew where it was going to take us, but it wouldn't be the lake. She was right. No lake. But the road did take us very close to the bathrooms!



As we were riding along the road, I couldn't resist taking a picture of the mountain in the distance. Isn't it beautiful?



Finally! We make it back to familiar territory! Now we know we aren't lost, and sis, you won't be needing that sweatshirt anytime soon!



As we were riding along, I couldn't resist taking pictures, even if the power lines are there. They are attractive in their own way, I suppose.





Hey look! I'm finally in a picture! Thanks sis! Now everyone knows I really do ride my horse out on the trails!



It was really getting hot at this point. We couldn't wait to get to the bathrooms, to eat, stretch our legs, than get back out on the trail.



We ride by this "shack" all the time. I think my sis found a place to stay if she should get lost, at least she will stay warm, with that sweatshirt and wood stove!



We decided to save the stream for last. It was almost the hottest part of the day. We ended up riding longer than we thought. I am sure the horses enjoyed cooling off their hooves!



Brandy really wasn't sure what to think of it. She goes through this stream all the time, but she really didn't want any of it today.



I almost jumped off Brandy and took a swim, ok, it isn't deep enough to swim, but I still could have gotten wet! Oh, and even if it was deep enough, I would never swim in it. I am scared of water!



Brandy is looking for a way out.



My sis's boy just had to check it out. Although, I think Fritzy was the only horse that drank out of the stream. She was lovin' it!



Brandy just wants to get the heck out of there! She's looking up the hill, and knows that is the trail that will take her back to safety!



Brandy always thinks she is going to be left behind. We ended up riding for 3 1/2 hours. We are moving on up! Before you know it, we will be packing a lunch and hitting the trails all day! I am really glad C could come up to ride. She rarely gets to ride anymore, and I know the stress of not having a job, and looking for a job can do for someone. She emailed me later to thank me for letting her go riding. She said that this was the first day she has taken for herself, since we have been unemployed. It was a good break that she really needed. She has been really looking for a job and applying everywhere. She hasn't had any luck. I kind of feel selfish, because I have been doing more playing than looking for a job, when there are others that have been hunting faithfully everyday, just hoping something will come of it. But I can't let it get me down. I sometimes feel like I deserve this break, but than again I think I should be out there like others and seriously looking.

I told C that I would take her riding anytime. She really liked riding Fritzy and she felt really comfortable on her. I think seeing all these other people ride Fritzy, is going to help my confidence with her. I was actually supposed to ride her that day, but than C was able to go on a ride. So hopefully in the next couple weeks, I will get to take her out.