Worst Ride

Last week was the worst of rides I have ever had, since I have been riding the mare. We had gone out to the tree farm next to the barn and then onto the private 80 or so acres beyond this to explore again...trying to make my way to the trails at the top of the road I trailered to once before. If I may do it without trailering or touching a road with hoof...that would be great!

We went in the Soft saddel since my creeking little jump saddle wne t back to it's maker for re flocking . She loves the Cashel Soft Saddel..it is treeless and cushy. I love it too...but I am not able to get off and on like normal..unless ther is a rather large tree stump.

The mare was a bit off, for lack of a better description...very needy, constantly neighing to her herd , not being able to listen very well... and wanting to trot the whole time. She was better going away the first hour or so...we went down by the creek and crossed it and found a rather large pond. Then ventured across another creek to a rather large old barn...what a beauty it is too!

I decided to go down the way I had cleared already in case of a surprise this new way that would entail me having to dismount. The days of old, with me leaping flat footed onto any horse, are sadly OVER!

We found the way across another creek and up to a driveway and YES!!! Over to the second 20 acre or so, tree farm! We have permission from the neighbor to ride these lands and what a JACKPOT it is to have them....I am finally able to do some cross training with the mare with how nice and level and LONG the footing is and goes...I wonder how many miles are in a 40 acre tree farm? I just have to get a GPS so I may use the heart monitor, as Stacey and Klein do..as well as the mileage counter!

o we made the trek to exactly where I wanted to go...I am so thankful for these wonderful trails that Trump any I have ridden to date..NO GRAVEL ROADS!
I may go barefoot hooves with the mare and not deal with boots!


So, on the way back, the mare was just frenzied and I did not know she could prance or "Jig" but she began to..it actually was comfy> but not welcome! I tried the one rein yield with her and she just won't give to that...as the times I tried it before..she never releases and almost keeps moving, feeding into to my fears of going over.


Well, she did...she tripped over herself and her right hind end crumpled and I was thinking of getting my feet out of the stirrups and they did come out as I slid off..she caught herself finally and I was relieved, as she may have gotten me if she had come backwards and down.


She looked dejected and we just stood there figuring out what happened. We just walked on home..it was within sight. She cut her hip and leg on something as she hit the ground.so I put some "Sore No More" liniment on it for a few days and she was fine.


I will not attempt that again..though all the natural horsemanship trainers teach it..my mare is silly and I won't go down again trying it.....her "calm down" is to stop moving...even doing patterns gets her riled up if she is already headed there. I have to just stop her and ask her to put her head down an shut OFF the Adrenaline!

I have had some very nice arena rides and also other trail rides since that ICK day..don't know what it was but, next time she can't stop whinnying..I am not getting on her!