The Herbie Memorial Ride

That is what I am calling yesterday afternoon. His spirit must have infected Slygirl, as she sure did not act like a baby three year old on her first real trail ride....instead she acted like a seasoned pro. The only un-Herbie thing she did was refuse a drink of beer. Silly girl.

We had a jillion firsts. The day started with her thinking she was funny running from us to be caught to go on the ride at all. And me without my camera, as even though I was spitting mad, she looked gorgeous playing---she would run and change leads with every other stride---and downshift to an easy lope, then back up to full on gallop--it was gorgeous. And I say that even knowing that Barry was getting so mad, the top of his head was about to blow off, which of course makes me feel terrible and takes a lot of the fun out of the ride in the first place.

She finally gave in, loaded up and off we went. She was perfect from the minute I unloaded her. Just for sport, I put the saddle bags on her--she has never carried them. I did not put much in them, as she surely does not need to carry more weight than me and my saddle, but it was a good learning experience. I put just enough ice in there to melt so it would drip on her as a good test. No issues with ANY of that at all. Even the flyspray was cool with her.

Off we went, trailing behind those big bay beasts that Headleys are riding right now---Tumbleweed has every bit of 8 inches on Slygirl in height and Logan is not much behind him. She plugged along, kept up well and never once complained about rocks on her bare feet. There were not many rocky areas, but we did do some short sections of gravel road.

The next test was when we had a pitstop and tied them all. She was great with that--her first tying to a tree in the woods, where half the green horses dance around the tree, or paw, or try to scrape the headstall or saddle off on the tree. When a huge group of riders came by for a short stop, she got a little antsy--I made fun of her by suggesting that she was excited there was a pony smaller than her in that group. She simmered down quickly though and off we went for more ride.

All in all, we were out about three and a half hours. I do not recall a single incident that bothered me. Her new bit is doing the trick---no yanking her nose up and bracing against it, no trotting to keep up unless I told her to do it, no running up anyone's butt, nothing.

It was awesome.

When we got home, I decided to keep her stalled to ride again tonight without wasting all that time chasing. I was so amped up from that ride, I got Radar out and rode him too. This was the first time since his ass showing ride last Thursday, and I had his regular bit and headstall--a one ear with a junior cowhorse bit on it, and man did that make the difference on him! He was perfect for me, but man I cannot sit his trot.

I had several things working against me on this ride--it was almost dusk, the front yard was littered with round bales, so we rode the alleyway between the senior pasture and the barns which we have never ridden before, Barry was moving hay, and putzing around in the truck etc. He did so well, I helped with moving hay by riding in the individual pastures to distract the horses from the open gate Barry needed to drop off hay.

I NEVER do this on any horse, because it is just asking for trouble---especially on a young horse, who has a lot of baggage about who he is subordinate to in the pasture, etc. A pack of buffalo would probably be safer for a young horse than their own pasture mates. I was all full of myself though, so we did it and it went really well. He was hesitant in the first pasture--he did not want to go far from the gate, and would stop--but I easily got him moving around to the far end of the pasture, with them all trotting behind him like he ws the Pied Piper.

Next was the mama and old boss mare pasture. It is quite a bit bigger though so we worked a long time in the far side of it, going through tall weeds, a dry creek all weeded up so that he could not see the ground, wound around some small fruit trees, etc...he did beautifully. I could not believe he was doing so well.

This must have made me cocky as I decided he was being good enough to help with the back pasture. This is like taking your life in your hands as the two freight trains, Cash and Haida Girl, are there, as well as the broodmares that have already weaned their babies. Anyone that raises many babies know that broodmares together like that can be as snappish as a pack of alligators. Of course as we entered, Cash and HG rushed him and he was SO brave. He was nose to nose with one of them, and I know he was terrified, I could feel him start to shake under me. The last thing I needed was some sort of challenge from her, so I backed him up and went around her---no issues at all! He was still scared but he did beautifully, and I cut that session short as a reward for him.

On the way back to the barn, I loped him a little--as much to avoid that trot of his that just does not fit me at all. I had never loped him before, but it felt so good, I did another three passes like that. He is a BIG stopper, and so responsive---we had a ball.

By this time, it was most of the way dark, so we quit. He stayed in for the nite too, so I can ride him again tonight.

All in all, a pretty good day!