Yesterday's ride

This is the tin whistle----a steel tunnel that runs under the railroad tracks where we rode yesterday. It is pitch black in there with scary shadows but neither Radar or Slygirl had much of a reaction at all, despite the echoes and shadows and wierd sounds. Jenna said that Radar was a little concerned when he scrambled up the hill and found himself facing this thing, but it must have been a small reaction as I was right behind him and never saw a thing from him

It was truly the most treacherous riding we have ever done, and I could not have asked for more from the two Slybabies than they gave. I would not have gotten more from the old pros like Twist or Play or Rock.

For once, I did not take a jillion pics, and because I was in the back of the trail to keep an eye on Jenna and Radar, all the photos I did take were from behind! For Jenna's first ride back after all the time off, she did really well--her knees took a couple bangs into trees, but she soon figured out how to keep that from happening, and I expect Radar and she both learned something from that.

The photo on the left is not terribly interesting, but gives you some idea of the size of the rocks we encountered. We had just come down the back side of the one pictured, and were wrapping around it.

Slygirl encountered her first water crossing. She was cool with that, after she understood it was for playing in. She would not drink the first three or four hours which worried me, but she finally signed on and started drinking. She still made me anxious with that stunt, even though it is not really that strange.

Another first that got their attention was rock climbers and rapellers. I do not recall if Radar saw some on Labor Day, but I know Slygirl never has and it really is strange to see people flying. The sounds of the belay rope or the zip line caused Radar to stand still and study it, but otherwise, they paid it little to no attention. It is those sort of things you do not think about and take for granted that every horse will handle well, but that sort of thinking is also what gets people hurt---we were lucky that they took it all in stride.

Once again, they impressed me more than I could ever have imagined. Surely this has to stop doesn't it? Surely it cannot be this easy all the time, can it?