Post by carshon on Jun 1, 2016 15:16:51 GMT
have had Skye for 7 weeks now. I have ridden her almost every weekend since she has been home. Initially I was a little disappointed that she did not seem to be the trail horse her previous owner described, but as time goes n am beginning to appreciate her willingness to try and her little quirks.
My daughter and I rode this weekend. The State park near our home (Morrison-Rockwood State park) finally opened and we were excited to try Skye in the timber. We had previously been riding on prairie restoration land so very few trees, lots of deer and turkey but fairly flat. On Sunday we rode almost the entire park - logging in a little over 8 miles. The timber made her a little nervous and the steep hills were still a little slick from past rain. One thing we found is that she does not do hills well - she rushes down them at a breakneck speed - frightening for us both! Since Steve used to do this when I first broke him I felt we could work on it. By the end of the ride she was really trying to get her hiney down and think about the hill instead of running down it. We also found that when nervous she clicks her teeth together. This made us laugh because it was like riding with a woodpecker! Poor girl - she never ever tried to do anything naughty but her teeth were going most of the ride. And when nervous her flat walk covers some ground - we did 1 mile in 15 minutes and that was a flat walk and not gaiting. On our first timber ride she saw a large snake in the trail - scared me but not Skye, lots and lots of horses we had to pass on the trail (passed a large group of about 12 riders and some smaller groups) we heard model airplanes, we saw lots and lots of trucks with campers, heard chainsaws and kids playing - but could not see them and heard other horses whinny in other parts of the trail that we could not see. We crossed some very muddy spots and crossed a creek. I had to get off at one of the ravine's that had a trickle of water running through it was quite muddy going to the bottom and deep sucking mud at the bottom - neither Skye nor Gracie wanted to cross. So I got off and let her across - or I should say I walked across and she jumped it! Splattered us both with mud- the creek crossing my daughter had to go first more deep mud and a 8 foot wide shallow creek once my daughter and Gracie crossed Skye did too. By the end of the ride my poor girl was so tired she was tripping she was still trying but she was very tired. At the bottom of another steep ravine a large tree blocked the trail on the way up - others had bushwacked around the tree up a straight up and down hill. I chose to get off my tired horse and lead her - she followed willingly but we were both sweaty and the nettles just made us itch! So at the top of the hill I rubbed her legs and Maddi rubbed Gracie's legs to help with the itch and we mounted up and head for the trailer. Skye got her first hose down and spooked at first but then found the water made the nettle itchies go away and felt good on a sweaty body. Day 1 done!
Day 2 we returned to the same park - it had rained there in the morning but not at my house. We opted to ride again but decided to take a short loop so we did not burn Skye out- got on and got to the first steep hill and she would not go down- so I got off and led her down - Gracie and Maddi slid down so I am glad I dismounted. Got back on and rode off - Skye would not cross the creek again it was moving a bit faster and was muddier so Gracie led the way. Sky was much more relaxed and there was not as much teeth clicking and we were not breaking any speed records - we took smaller hills with no issues - on the last big hill I rode her down and she got those legs under her and worked her way down - up was just as slippery and she let me help her find the right places to get off the trail. We saw boaters on a lake and passed some fishermen - she handled this really well. We had to cross the creek again and Skye led! I was so proud of her - we took it slow and I gave lots and lots of pats. Made it up and down another ravine and no dismounts. Then we were back at the trailer. Lots of horses in the parking area and a lot of commotion - she was great. About 3.5 miles the second day but I was so happy with her. She is going to make a trail horse yet! And I have found that riding a short horse suits me fine - I can get on and off when needed and no stumps. I miss Steve and think of him often - but Skye is finding her place in my heart too.
And just to prove we crossed the creek first here is a pic my daughter took of us leading the way
And one when we got home and she needed more scratchies
My daughter and I rode this weekend. The State park near our home (Morrison-Rockwood State park) finally opened and we were excited to try Skye in the timber. We had previously been riding on prairie restoration land so very few trees, lots of deer and turkey but fairly flat. On Sunday we rode almost the entire park - logging in a little over 8 miles. The timber made her a little nervous and the steep hills were still a little slick from past rain. One thing we found is that she does not do hills well - she rushes down them at a breakneck speed - frightening for us both! Since Steve used to do this when I first broke him I felt we could work on it. By the end of the ride she was really trying to get her hiney down and think about the hill instead of running down it. We also found that when nervous she clicks her teeth together. This made us laugh because it was like riding with a woodpecker! Poor girl - she never ever tried to do anything naughty but her teeth were going most of the ride. And when nervous her flat walk covers some ground - we did 1 mile in 15 minutes and that was a flat walk and not gaiting. On our first timber ride she saw a large snake in the trail - scared me but not Skye, lots and lots of horses we had to pass on the trail (passed a large group of about 12 riders and some smaller groups) we heard model airplanes, we saw lots and lots of trucks with campers, heard chainsaws and kids playing - but could not see them and heard other horses whinny in other parts of the trail that we could not see. We crossed some very muddy spots and crossed a creek. I had to get off at one of the ravine's that had a trickle of water running through it was quite muddy going to the bottom and deep sucking mud at the bottom - neither Skye nor Gracie wanted to cross. So I got off and let her across - or I should say I walked across and she jumped it! Splattered us both with mud- the creek crossing my daughter had to go first more deep mud and a 8 foot wide shallow creek once my daughter and Gracie crossed Skye did too. By the end of the ride my poor girl was so tired she was tripping she was still trying but she was very tired. At the bottom of another steep ravine a large tree blocked the trail on the way up - others had bushwacked around the tree up a straight up and down hill. I chose to get off my tired horse and lead her - she followed willingly but we were both sweaty and the nettles just made us itch! So at the top of the hill I rubbed her legs and Maddi rubbed Gracie's legs to help with the itch and we mounted up and head for the trailer. Skye got her first hose down and spooked at first but then found the water made the nettle itchies go away and felt good on a sweaty body. Day 1 done!
Day 2 we returned to the same park - it had rained there in the morning but not at my house. We opted to ride again but decided to take a short loop so we did not burn Skye out- got on and got to the first steep hill and she would not go down- so I got off and led her down - Gracie and Maddi slid down so I am glad I dismounted. Got back on and rode off - Skye would not cross the creek again it was moving a bit faster and was muddier so Gracie led the way. Sky was much more relaxed and there was not as much teeth clicking and we were not breaking any speed records - we took smaller hills with no issues - on the last big hill I rode her down and she got those legs under her and worked her way down - up was just as slippery and she let me help her find the right places to get off the trail. We saw boaters on a lake and passed some fishermen - she handled this really well. We had to cross the creek again and Skye led! I was so proud of her - we took it slow and I gave lots and lots of pats. Made it up and down another ravine and no dismounts. Then we were back at the trailer. Lots of horses in the parking area and a lot of commotion - she was great. About 3.5 miles the second day but I was so happy with her. She is going to make a trail horse yet! And I have found that riding a short horse suits me fine - I can get on and off when needed and no stumps. I miss Steve and think of him often - but Skye is finding her place in my heart too.
And just to prove we crossed the creek first here is a pic my daughter took of us leading the way
And one when we got home and she needed more scratchies
