Trail Ride

Today was a beautiful day- a bit hot and muggy with loads of big bugs, but we set off anyhow to enjoy a ride down the trails. Savanna rode Squeeke and I rode Beau. Olivia joined us aboard Grandma and Grandpa's pony Nic. All three of the horses (and all three of the kids)were well behaved and we really had a good time! Billy ran along with us for most of the way... then as we came back he had his turn (I can't figure out how to get blogger to do better with picture order... but I got a shot of him on Beau)

This was the first time we have taken Squeeke out for a real trail- she has been on the short loops by the house (5 minutes or so in the woods) but this was further from home (this lovely gravel road leads out to a sand pit along the back side of the property) and certainly much much longer than we have done before. Also this was the first real time we have tackled water crossings with her. Savanna has walked her through puddles in the driveway- but we had actual running/standing water today. She looked a bit, and tried to find another path around but when Savanna stuck to her guns and told her to walk on, she went right through! What a champ

Since Nic lives up at the big barn, Olivia doesn't get as much of a chance to ride with us. Today I dropped her off while Grandpa was working. I left her alone to get her pony tacked up as Savanna and I went back down to the house to get ourselves ready. We worked quick and then we rode down to meet her- it worked well. Olivia did a nice job of tacking up alone and she got to finally go along with us! Nic was a bit herd bound, but she did a good job getting him going. He was great for her after we left the barnyard- not bad for a pony who has had months off. The trail is pretty wide and clear- a real road for the first part of the way, then a reasonably nice ATV track on thru a swamp out to the sand pit. Once you get out there, the footing out in the pits is really nice- the bottom is pretty well packed and reasonably flat, so we had a bit of time to trot around. Savanna was saying it "our own private desert." We were pretty hot by the time we were done and the bugs were bad so we just headed back the way we had come.

Billy initially wanted to ride Squeeke, but when the time came to swap horses/riders he opted for Beau. I was less then thrilled to gasp *walk* the rest of the way home, but he had a blast on Beau. He told me "you know, he's just following YOU!" What a good guy- he took good care of Billy. He had been itching and tossing his head a bit with the bugs, but once the little one was up- he walked perfectly! I wish Billy's eyes were open in this picture, but I took it using my phone, and I couldn't really see the screen with the glare!

As we made our way back to the big barn to drop Olivia and Nic back, Bill was there- so he got the chance to see all three kids ride in! It was pretty cute- he asked "Hey, where's your horse?!" Yup, I share. I'm good like that. It was nice get the chance to get out, and especially to have the girls both with me. It was a lot of walking for Billy though- but he didn't complain once! I think I'll try to plan future rides for when he can stay with Daddy... And maybe we can get an earlier start next time and beat the heat and bugs!