Goal Achieved!

We had an adventure packed weekend and I have so much to tell. But I am so excited about what we did with the horses, that my ziplining adventure will have to wait until later!

I wonder where we are?

After a crazy Saturday of ziplining, which was so much fun, we rushed home to hit the trails. We had decided earlier in the day that we would attempt to take Chance on a short trail ride, but not on our neighbors trails like we had originally planned. We were just going to haul them to our local trails and go for it. Sometimes I wonder if I really am crazy. I really did not feel that Chance was ready for this big of a step, but it has to happen at some time, right? The one thing going for us was that is was late enough in the day (5:30 p.m.) that there would not be many horses there, so it would be quiet and a good time to get Chance exposed. Even if Chance had a meltdown at the trailhead parking lot, I could just let her stand there and soak everything up without going for a ride and call it a good learning experience. We did not have to ride, although that was what we were hoping to do. I did lunge Chance before we loaded them up to see where her frame of mind was. She was fine.

Saddled and ready to go somewhere!

Once we got to the trailhead and unloaded the horses we proceeded to tack them up. There were only 4 horse trailers there, so I was correct in assuming that it would be quiet. Chance was calm and relaxed at the trailhead. We got on our horses over by the gate that takes you to the trails. Chance got a little nervous about a woman out on the street yelling at her dog and dragging a garbage can across the pavement. I don't blame her. I swear some people have really bad timing. I had only taken a few steps when Chance chucked her head up in the air and I had absolutely no control of her. I thought to myself "Great, this is not how I want to start my ride." I got her to give to the bit and relax before I continued walking on. Once I got her back under control we headed out on the trail. The first part of the trail we were going to take was wide and sandy. It is a great training trail. We knew which route we were going to take and how far we would go. We didn't want to overdo it and stress Chance out, but we wanted to give her the opportunity to get used to the trails and relax. Not far up the trail there is some standing water. Fritzy had already walked by the water with no problem and Chance spotted the water and stopped. She refused to go forward. I know how Chance reacts to things and how to get her to listen to me from riding her on my property at home. Every time she backed up I say loudly in my not so nice voice "Ah, Ah, Ah!" and she stops backing up. Then I ask her in my very kind voice to "walk forward!" while I put my leg on her. She will always walk a step or two forward, try backing up again, then I repeat the whole process. She eventually walks forward with no problem. We made it by the water. Then she saw her shadow and decided she did not like that. But she kept walking.

We made it a few hundred feet down the trail!

Once around the 2nd corner, Chance was starting to relax and really listening to me. My OH stopped to take a picture. Then he continued on. Well, Fritzy thought she saw something (maybe there really was something out there? But I doubt it) and refused to go forward. My OH gave her a good kick to get her moving. And right before my eyes and the eyes of my very green 3 year old Mustang filly, Fritzy put her head down, bucked, spun a 360, reared..... my OH went flying off, hit the sand and Fritzy reared again. This is SO not what needed to happen 10 minutes into our trail ride. Chance pranced a couple steps and when Fritzy was done rearing I dismounted from Chance. If Fritzy took off running, I would be on a out of control filly running away with her. I did not want to go there. I held onto Chance and she stood there, a little nervous but in a pretty good frame of mind, especially considering what she just witnessed. Fritzy did not move after that last rear. My OH got up, whacked her with the whip a few times, he got back on and I got back on Chance and away we went, like nothing ever happened. Believe it or not, Chance really relaxed after that whole incident. We got to the woodsy trail that we were going to take next. This trail is not really narrow, but there are some hills and tree roots to step over while it winds its way through the woods.

Just cruisin' along.

I was still following my OH and once we got through the woodsy trail which did not bother Chance at all and into the next clearing, my OH asked if I wanted to lead for awhile. I said sure, why not? So we turned back around and went back through the woodsy trail with Chance and I in the lead. Chance was not spooky and didn't shy away from stumps and logs. She just cruised along.

Chance taking over the lead!

When we got out of the woodsy trail, my OH asked if I wanted to go through it one more time. I said sure! Chance was relaxed, let's go for it! So I led us back through the woodsy trail, turned back around at the clearing, went back through the woodsy trail and out into the grassy field where there was a long tree laying out in the middle. I was still leading, rode Chance right up to the tree and she stopped, sniffed then walked right over. It wasn't very graceful but she was very brave doing this all on her own. I had never practiced walking over things at home. She did it like she had been doing it every day for a month!

I love this horse!

We decided that Chance's first REAL trail lesson went pretty darn good, considering the circumstances of our "safe and savvy trail horses" major blowup and an unexpected dismount. (My OH was fine after that, just a little sore the next day. And this was his first time being dumped). I was very happy with the lesson. So we decided we would do it again the next day.

But when Sunday came around, my OH told me that Fritzy looked off when he fed the horses that morning. We went out and gave her a gram of Bute and I had my OH walk her for me. Yep. Another abscess is brewing in her left front hoof. (This is one reason why we got a 4th horse, another one for my OH to ride. Fritzy has a lot of hoof abscesses and she is usually out of commission for about a month in the summer time). Now that could explain why she had an "episode" the evening before. The last time an abscess was starting was when my mom was visiting a month ago and she was not acting herself. So no trail riding. As I went down to get my Epsom gel poultice and hoof wrap, I thought to myself "Well, I know my OH is a little big on Brandy, but he knows how to ride now and Brandy doesn't get so spooky and spazzy on the trails anymore, she should be able to carry him on a short trail ride." So I got back out to poultice Fritzy's hoof and I told my OH that we would take Brandy and he would ride her. He said he thought of the same thing. So again, I lunged Chance and we loaded them up. We get to the trailhead and it is PACKED. Total chaos. There was no parking. But a woman saw us coming and she was done riding and she hurried to load her horse and pulled out so we could take her spot. It didn't leave any room for us to tie at my trailer, but it was right by the one and only hitching post, so we just tied the girls up there. A woman came back from her ride and she was riding a Belgian, well Chance wasn't liking that! She got a little terrified of the BIG horse. Then the biggest dog ever came plodding along and she did not want anything to do with that either! Then the loudest diesel truck came driving by which was about 4 feet away from my horses butts and she did not like that. I just took my time getting the horses saddled up. I figured it was a good time to let her soak in all the commotion and excitement of the trailhead. 

Waiting at hitching post.

We were planning on going the other direction, up the paved road to other trail entrance. Chance has never been on a road before, but it is not a major road. It's a little side road that takes you to a few houses so there is very minimal traffic. I decided to lead her down the paved part in case a car came by since she has not experienced cars with me riding her yet. A car did drive by. She was fine. Once we got to the trail entrance, I got on. When we got to the more narrow, woodsy trail and Brandy would round a corner, she got a little nervous and jiggy because she couldn't see Brandy anymore. But with more trail experience she will eventually get over that. I did keep reminding my OH that he needs to slow down around corners and make sure I am close enough so Chance doesn't lose sight of them. Right out of the woodsy trail is a car bridge. A wide bridge, but I have not ridden Chance over a bridge. I have a wood bridge at home that I have led her over many times. But it is different when you are riding them. Brandy went over and Chance went right over, but got nervous about the sound it made under her feet. I could feel her shaking beneath me but she was very brave and she did it. After that I took over the lead and we rode up the wide, gravel road for awhile. Once we reached the sandy trail that takes us to the bathrooms I had my OH take the lead back over in case we ran into any horses. We had already passed 2 horses towards the beginning of our ride and Chance got a little nervous about that. When we were on the narrow, sandy trail, a group of 3 horses were coming down the trail. My OH explained we had a baby in training and they were more then happy to turn around and find a spot to pull over in. There wasn't enough passing room, especially with a green baby! We continued on the the bathroom/break area.

Taking a break.

Chance was very relaxed and calm at the break area.

Chance and I!

We got back on and headed back to the trailhead. We knew of some obstacles along the route back that we wanted to expose Chance too. She was a little worried about the big culvert, but she wanted to walk up and check it out. So proud!!

My baby's growing up!!

We also wanted to take her across one of the more longer, narrow bridges. My OH took Brandy across the bridge first and stopped on the other side before I rode Chance over. She hesitated at first and I could tell she didn't want to do it.

You can do it Chance!

But she walked forward, a little hesitantly, and made it all the way across on her own!!

She did it!

We weren't going to go back the way of the water crossing, but we changed our mind. We decided that we better just do it because this weekend we are going on another ride with Tracey of the Mustang Diaries blog, and she is bringing her young Mustang filly along for the experience. So we went back over the long, narrow bridge through the woods, over another short, narrow bridge and down to the water crossing. Chance walked right down to the water and stood there. What? My Chance does not like water, is this really my horse here? Okay, I won't complain. I couldn't believe it though.

What, water? No big deal!

I was only able to get her up to the waters edge. She sniffed it but did not want to put her hooves in. So I asked my OH to take Brandy into the water. He rode Brandy through and waited on the other side.

Gotta love my OH's goofy pictures!

Chance and I had quite the discussion about walking through water. She stepped in with one foot.......... and then........ she took off running through the water. Oh boy. At first I thought she was going to try to jump the water, but apparently she thought her hooves would get less wet if she ran through it. At his point I could not get her to stop. The one thing with green horses is sometimes you just don't have a lot of control. She definitely needs more bridle work. But remember, this was only her 17th ride, EVER!! So she ran right into Brandy's butt. And stopped. Alrighty then.

"Do I have to go through that?"

Chance conquered every obstacle we threw at her. And passed. Maybe not with flying colors. But she did them all. And she handled it like she has been out on the trails for a month, at least. She definitely needs more training. I mean, I do not like the no control feeling. But that only happened a few times. For the most part I had control and she listened to my cues very well.

Now that was a great ride!

We passed a bigger group of horses on our way back to the trailhead. Chance got nervous, but she will get better about that. It will take some time. I am so proud of my girl. She handled herself so good on both rides. I know I have a lot more work to do, but we are getting there. I am so happy that I have reached my goal of getting her out on the trails before fall. Even if I am a little crazy at times and I probably should have practiced more at home. But the best way to practice is to just get her out there and do it. Tons of trail miles is what makes a great trail horse. And I know I will have a great trail horse in Chance. I just got proof that it can be done!

Chance is getting a couple days off and then I will do some more arena training later this week to get ready for another trail ride this weekend! I love this horse!