Getting In Those First Trail Miles

The last few days have been more trail rides. One by Katie, one solo ride with just me and Tweed, and a date night with my husband yesterday. 

On Katie’s ride she used him to chase deer, getting him right into the fray with them bounding all around him. This is something that happens naturally on trail rides all the time, when we come across a little group of deer and they go running off. 

Years ago it happened to me while I was riding Cowboy along a steep drop off. To the right of us was the drop off and to the left of us were deer hunkered down in trees on a hot day. They popped up when we reached their hiding place, and could have caused him to shy off the cliff, but instead he just jumped in place, then continued on. 

I asked her what she would do if she ran into a moose, because we see those a lot around here. She said if it isn’t huge or a mom with babies, she’d chase it, too. She wants her horses to have the highest level of confidence no matter what they encounter. 

On my solo day, Tweed was awesome. I think I told you all that Katie speaks to him before asking, both on the ground and in saddle. I tried it on the ground first, walk, trot, lope. Tweed obeyed all three exactly as they were uttered. He did them immediately, no clucking or kissing needed. 

When I tried them in saddle it was 50/50. He needed more cues from my body, but his transitions were effortless. 

On our trail ride, I concentrated on gait changes out in the open, walk and trot. I will eventually add lope. Katie has already added it. The goal is to teach him that just because we’re going faster it doesn’t mean we’re being chased. He’s doing very well with it so far, and he rides out alone better than he does with a buddy. 

We also went through more large standing water puddles and down some of the most technically difficult hills. 

During one of our puddle practices, three walkers emerged out of nowhere. Tweed wanted to look at them, but continued his job. They enjoyed the show very much and commented on how beautiful he is. Whenever I encounter people, I always engage them in conversation so that Tweed sees they aren’t a threat. 

Last night’s date night was more of the same, but with Leah in tow behind us.

It was dusk, and the “hills were alive” with the sounds (and smells) of wildlife. Tweed was more alert than usual, but I worked to keep his headset in a relaxed position, nothing to be scared about Tweed, through vertical flexion, released to a loose rein when he found it. (In the photo above, he’s in alert position.)

As you can see in the video, my husband has ceased asking Leah to cross puddles. He has decided he doesn’t care and doesn’t want her to get amped up about anything. Leah likes this new arrangement.

There was one issue when we turned toward home and had to ascend a very tall, steep hill. At the bottom, Tweed did a head toss and kick out. I turned him in a circle and he proceeded up at a walk. I assumed it was his protest at having to walk, not run, but my husband informed me, over wine later, that he’d allowed Leah to get up in his butt when it happened, so I’m not sure now what it was about. I’ll file it away.

So far, Tweed has only ridden trails at the equestrian park, but I have a new one for him that takes us along a lake and to a waterfall. It’s a 30 minute haul, but well worth it. I hope we can do it in the next week.

Fingers crossed!