Finally!

I know I always talk about the weather and I am sure it is getting a little old, but we have had the most fantastic week of weather for May! For those of you that live in the Northwest (or as we like to call it, NorthWET) will understand that when we get summer like temperatures in May, we MUST take advantage of it. So that is why I have not been blogging, nor on the computer at all. I have been outside every.single.second. I have been so busy. And I had planned something for my OH and I on Sunday. I had to do a little prep work on Saturday for our big day. Like wash my truck and horse trailer, clean my tack (product review coming up on leather tack cleaner from Absorbine!) and hook up the horse trailer and load my tack! Why may you ask? Because we were going trail riding!! I know this shouldn't really be a surprise to many of you, but the circumstances in the last 2 1/2 years have not allowed me to hit the trails. My job required me to be on the road for horse shows, a lot. And my OH's work schedule was crazy hectic, that we hardly saw each other for 2 years. Plus Fritzy had numerous health issues with cellulitus and neck and hoof abscesses. Then there was Brandy's lameness all summer which meant trying to figure out what was going on with her. So..............

We finally got the horses out for a trail ride! Fritzy has not been ridden on trails in almost 2 years and Brandy went on a couple small trail rides at the Pony Cousin Stampede last summer. I was a little concerned that the horses would be off of their "trail riding game". I mean this is what they do! They are trail horses! Fritzy was lunged all last week and I even got Brandy out for a ride. So I felt like they were about as ready as they were going to get. Once we got to the trail head, we tacked them up, climbed aboard and hit the trails! At first Fritzy was a little rusty. She was weaving like she was drunk (which is normal) and she wasn't too enthused about crossing the stream (which is not normal). But I was super proud of my OH, he kicked her and said "Get up there!" and Fritzy jumped right on into the water.




It was still pretty muddy in the wooded trails. But since my horses are so used to mud, it is no big deal for them.




I had a plan on which route I wanted to take. There is a section of our trails that I just love. It has some good hill climbs and cool, windy trails that have gorgeous scenery. So we headed in that direction.

There was quite a bit of dead fall from over the winter. So there were a lot more trees to step over then usual.

About half way through our ride we stopped at the "outhouses" for a break. Fritzy sweats like you wouldn't believe and we needed to give her a breather. I made my OH take a picture of me and my girl. I have really missed our trail riding days with her!! I used to go trail riding once or twice a week and then....not at all.

There are numerous bridges on our trails. This one is up pretty high and I swear every time I cross it, the darn ducks have to fly up and away, scaring the you know what outta Brandy. She has been spooked so badly that she has almost gone over the rail....well that is what it felt like anyways. I usually announce myself to the ducks now, hoping they get the hint and fly away before I cross the bridge. I doubt it works, but it's worth a try, right? But this day there were no ducks. Thank goodness.

The next set of trails is through a clear cut, that is now really growing!! Before you used to be able to see over the tops of these trees....not so much anymore! Has it really been that long since I have been on these trails? Yep.

We took turns leading and following, but I think Fritzy got more lead time in. She isn't spooky and will plow right through anything!




We didn't want to ride too long. The horses aren't in the greatest shape right now. So we didn't deviate from our planned route. Although I would have loved to stay out there all day!!

These ponies of ours need miles, so we are going to go on a lot of trail rides this year. We want to get them in shape so we can pack a lunch and ride all day!! Plus I have my mom and my cousin Betsy coming up this year to ride with me! Which I am really excited for!

The horses were so good! They were perfect. I mean PERFECT! We could not have asked for a better ride. So for my 2 out of shape trail horses that haven't even been on the trails in almost 2 years, YOU ROCK!! It was the best day I have had in a long time and my OH and I got in some good quality time together!! I'm ready to go again!