Trail Journal: May Long 2013

I am alive! After a pretty crazy week getting ready, then heading to may long, then jumping back into a ton of work, I finally have a moment back to my blog. May Long was AMAZING, I can't get over what a great weekend it was. The forecast was for pouring rain everyday and we only got a smidge of rain one morning while we were sleeping - it was wonderful weather, and even better riding.

We headed out Friday at about 4 pm, we had to go pick-up Quiz at Caron's uncle's place, so it was a bit of a journey to get all the horses together, and make it to the ranch. We had good time though and ended up unloading the horses around 6:30 pm.

For the first night we put Mac and Jingle together, and Quiz in another pen. The boys were wonderful together, here are two proud mamas.

Here are two proud mamas again... the one in the full camo (ahem.. me) may have indulged in one too many that particular night. What the heck - i'm camping!

That night was by-far the coldest night, and it didn't help I jumped into an unzipped sleeping bag with little disregard for warmth when I fell asleep. I woke up in the middle night quite hypothermic, luckily by the morning it was hot-hot-hot, and we ended up the Little Red Deer River on one of my favourite rides.

Here is the gang at the first river crossing up the red, the obligatory "shot through the ears" photo provided by my handsome man. Who, by the way, I found a saddle for and then gave a week off. Mister was a bit of a dancy-spookey-pants, apparently he doesn't remember he was born and raised on a ranch. A log turned him into a cutting horse, that's how quickly he jumped away from it, oh how easily we forgot where we came from...

Although we lucked out on weather, there was still some spots of snow hiding in the hills...

Jingle even encountered quaders for the first time.

Not to be bested by the boys, the girls headed up the same hill they had just come down.

Beat that boys and machines.

The river crossings were easy-peasy all weekend. In other springs, I've nearly swam through some crossings, this was our deepest one and my jeans only got a little wet. 

We arrived at our destination - Forever Winter - named so for the spring that consistently has snow on it year-round. However,  I have never actually witnessed snow on the spring, so wasn't it lucky that this year, the area held up to it's name!

From there we headed to the "Far Lookout" and checked out the beautiful view.

Snow still on the mountains!

The next day we bundled up to a bit of a more overcast day and headed out...

As you can see here, I had to wrap Jingle's sidepull in vet wrap, the chicago screws on his sidepull were rubbing him a bit raw on one spot on his cheek, poor boy.

A lot of new logging has happened since last summer, which is always kind of surreal. This area was a huge forest that we used to have to wind up and through. Now there's a big road in it's place, and no more trees.

We got to our destination - Maimi's Lake - named from an old ghost story, but this year it was more of a slew, we even got to walk out right to the middle. Something I haven't done in a couple years.

Of course we had to take some girly group-shots, my camera was propped up by a log... 

All the deadfall at the mouth of the "lake" and me!

This is towards the end of our ride... I'm not saying that we probably had one to many stops to "warm up" with fireball, but.... well, maybe we did.. look at those big smiles!

Mac was acting a bit silly with the owner's horses in a pen beside our crew, he was trying to get at one of their mares, and in the winnying and running ended up spooking Quiz and Jingle. Jingle took it upon himself to protect Quiz and began to herd her away. It was getting a bit mixed up, so we moved Mac in a pen beside our crew but away from the other horses. Quiz and Jingle were quite content to be together, they are undeniably in love, infact this photo shows Jingle letting Quiz eat his grain while he happily munches hay. We also caught them taking turns eating out of the same small bucket earlier... 

After supper we went on a hike to a spot called "The Waterfall" that Laura and I literally stumbled upon one year as counsellors. It's a pretty cool spot - an old dried up waterfall in the middle of the forest with rock ledges and old trees across it.

Here we are infront of an old hunters cabin, affectionately known as Slashfoot's cabin.

From there, we decided it would be an intelligent idea to scale a rock wall to get home, instead of getting our feet wet in the river..

Brigitte and Caron survived it!

The Next day we did a shorter, but still really nice ride to a spring named - Sur Coulee - all in all we had an absolutely wonderful long weekend, one we're sure to talk about for years to come.

Meg, our mascot and the local farm dog.

My truck had died the second we got to the ranch on Friday so the boys tinkered with it and ultimately it had to be towed into the nearest town (... by a dually and a tow rope and me behind the wheel... terrifying). $1000 later and a new fuel pump it's fixed, but i'm still licking my pocket books wounds... sigh. Not the best end to the trip, but nevertheless, we sure did have a good time. (Perhaps, a couple times, too good of a good time)

Trail Ridin' in the Arena

Cash & I at the "top of the world"

Today, I had the hankerin' to go out on the trail.

Last night I had a decent ride on Jingle. I busted out the split reins, I always feel i'm more liberal with my release, and keeping off of his face with nice leather split reins. I worked on a lot of slow stuff, walking and circling, circling without my hands. I had my cutting lesson in my mind and kept my hands on his neck, and tried to only touch my reins if he was doing something I didn't want. It was hard for me, and he was mentally being a bit spazzy, but we're working it out.

At the end of the ride I could feel him still buzzing with energy, all the other horses had been loping in the arena and I knew he was thinking, "What, that's it? We're done?" My plan had been strictly slow stuff, but it was late, and the arena was near empty, so I decided to do something a little different. I asked for his left lead, the one he is most comfortable on, and just let him fly. I put my reins in one hand, unless he needed some direction, and kept them looooooong and around and around we went. I could tell he was happy, and I was pretty happy too.

My thought process was to just let him run, and only correct him when I absolutely needed too, however, I wasn't going to let him quit until he gave me something nice, slow and responsive.

It worked. He was wicked. The first couple laps were pretty fast, but I didn't feel out of control, the next couple laps were a little more calm, but still too fast, and then he kept trying to break down - nope, pick it back up ponyboy. Finally after circling and loping the entire rail, I got exactly what I wanted. A nice, soft lope. We quit.

I let a friend jump on him to cool him off and they just plodded along.

As my friend was walking him around I couldn't help but think about how much I truly love my horse - gushy stuff aside, I like how he travels - quick, sure footed, I like how he moves - really reaches under himself, has a nice low headset (if no one is even thinking about touching him with their legs/hands). We just gotta figure out how to become more of a willing duo together. It'll come.

Anyway, long ramble aside, during our big, nice lope, I couldn't help but think how nice it would be if we were out exploring a trail somewhere and came upon the flats, and just let it fly.

That is one thing I will truly, truly miss, especially once springtime comes around, where will I adventure?

It wont be so easy to roll out of bed in the morning and hop on a horse and just go anymore.

Figuring it out with my Shyboy.

Equestrian Challenge: Day 4

Day 04- A ride that impacted your life

This one really made me think....

I have two that I'll talk about, although i'm sure i'm ignoring a couple really good rides in the process. I have been blessed with some spectacular rides, but these two particular rides are two that have a pretty long-lasting impact.
The first is the first time I rode my horse. :)

It was a bit of a gross rainy day in 2010, Jingle would have been 6, I was 18, and I got to the barn and was told I would be riding a horse named "Jingo". Everyone seemed a bit worried about the whole situation, I remember thinking he had a really pretty forelock. :) I rode with a "beginner" group, and the only hiccup of the entire ride was that he didn't want to go up a very large, steep hill. I got someone to come right infront of me, parked his nose in that horses bum, and away we went. He did awesome. Later that night, I broke my wrist, and it wouldn't be until almost a year later that I saw ponyboy again. For some unknown reason, he settled into my brain as my "favourite", and now, he's mine. *Cue sappy music*

The second was the 2012 "Counsellor Ride" this summer.

The "Counsellor Ride" was something I had organized as a thank-you for the counsellors that worked at the ranch this year. Very rarely were counsellors allowed to do this, and I begged, pleaded and reminded the owners daily until I got the go-ahead to do it. Generally speaking, we pull our horses shoes and kick them out onto lease land until mid-September when they are brought back in, and sent to winter pasture. However, since this was the last year, and the sale of the horses was in mid-September, the horses were to stay closer to home. It was towards the end of august and it was disgustingly hot. I had tried to pair up everyone with their 'favourite' horse, or a horse that I knew they would have a good ride on. It was stressful, and it literally made me stomach ache thinking about dissapointing someone, as this was to be the last ride many of us would ever have at the ranch. 

Getting ready to head out

Me & King Ponyboy

I obviously rode King Ponyboy (Jingle), and he was AWESOME. I hadn't ridden him much this summer, but I knew he'd be fine and sure enough he was wicked. I weaved around the massive group (I think over 20 of us were on the ride? I can't remember) the entire time. A couple times I took off on my own little path, away from the masses, and he was fine to just follow my lead. It was honestly the perfect ride with my horse.

Best boy.

Doing our own thing...

We headed to the "Far Lookout", and hung out there for awhile, and then took a different way back. We stopped at a spring, and then meandered home through the river for quite awhile. Towards the end, I fell to the back, and walked through the last gate with two of my bestfriends. It was a pretty bitter-sweet moment. A part of me was so amazed and happy to see so many lovely, wonderful friends, on such beautiful, strong horses ahead of me. Another part of me realized that we were coming "home" to the shed for the last time.

Heading Home

So, how did this ride "Impact" me? Well, it was totally symbolic of my experience at the ranch, and it signified the end. Thankfully, it was able to symbolize the "end" in a really beautiful, pure way. What amazed me the most was how happy all the horses seemed. We had horses ranging from "counsellor" horses, all the way to our intermediate - juniour horses, and each one seemed happy to comply and come on this last ride with us. It almost felt, as corny as it sounds, that they knew this was their last ride too.

There was another side too, a negative and dark side, that for me made it slightly easier to walk away from the ranch. I walked those last couple minutes knowing that I was coming home with my heart-horse, and quite a few heart/forever friends, and that is really what was so important, and significant about that particular ride.

Saying goodbye in the shed....

Equestrian Challenge: Day 3

Day 03 - Your Best Riding


Well... this is a loaded question, isn't it? Haha. When I was younger I thought I was a pretty decent rider, and then I started taking lessons, and just sort of melted in a puddle atop of my horse. However, last night, my trainer commented, as I was loping Jingle over poles, "I should have taken a video of the first ride you had here, and compare it to now! It's crazy!"... so, that's a compliment right? ;)

So, I suppose my best riding has been lately, really learning how to communicate better with Jingle to achieve a calmer, peaceful, more willing state between the two of us. Sometimes though, I really don't think it is my best riding haha... horses have a way of humbling you, don't they?

Honestly, all technicalities and refined qualities aside, I would have to say some of my best riding was finding and chasing horses home from the hills. I do think I have a knack for direction, and i'm pretty good at reading where a herd will go, and how they will move. Plus, there's something about chasing horses that makes me fearless - galloping down a cliff, in a hail storm, while jumping logs, and chasing a stud and his band of mares - yeah, i've done that. (Absolutely no word of a lie)

So, I guess that begs the question - what does the statement your "best riding" really mean? For me, it can mean either that learning, meeting, and melding of technical skills in the arena, or the fearlessness I had while chasing horses in the boondocks.

Trail Journal: 7

So, as you guys probably read, I left the barn last Thursday questioning whether my horse and I were ever going to get past this brick wall that is seemingly right in front of us. What happened Thursday was really, not all that bad, Jingle just would not slow down... at all.. we ended up trotting around for about 35-45 minutes because I just wanted him to blow off some steam. Then after that, I asked him to lope and he pinned his ears... I've never, ever seen my horse pin his ears in his life. So, of course, I instantly go into panic mode about saddle-fit issues, back pain etc. (I am planning to get a massage/chiro/perhaps osteo - post for a later date, out to check him, but I think his back is fine - i'm still worried about his jaw) However, I don't think it is related to any of that, I just think he's starting to get arena sour... I really don't want, or need, an arena sour horse. Especially when my goals in life are to become a better arena rider. So, once the words "arena sour" popped into my mind I just became really sad, and then by the time Jingle was banging his head into the wall (literally, and figuratively), while working on our side-passing, I just quit. Enough of this. 

I always try to quit on a good note, but, heck - no good notes were happening with my horse and I that night, we were just way too out of sync, and I could tell he was just as exasperated with me, as I was him. Great feeling, huh?

So, I headed out to the barn on Saturday thinking I needed to change things up, and perhaps ride outside. It's interesting that I went from NEVER riding inside, ever, to now almost being... worried... to riding outside? So strange! I don't know any of the trails around our barn though, and I was a little uneasy about riding up the road because the snow is so packed down and icey... especially because Jingle still has front shoes on.

When I first got to the barn, Tristan, got Jingle and I a present!! He had gone to the states and found crackers called "Jingos" - Jingle's registered name is Bar J Jingos Doc!

My horse was not cooperating with hamming it up with Tristan, but here they are - they even come in spicy flavours to match my boys personality! I think Jingle has to be their spokes-horse, how perfect! THIS is how Jingle will make me money - be the poster ponyboy of a cracker company!!

Then fate intervened, and two ladies, who predominately trail ride, asked Brigitte to go on a trail ride, and I tagged along! Perfect timing ladies! So we headed out to the wild blue yonder for a really nice two hour trail ride. Of course Brigitte and I talked each-other's heads off the whole time...

Brigitte & Mac!

We're pretty experienced at the whole talking whilst trail riding thing, after all these years - we have it down to an art. The ride was actually really nice and pretty, I shouldn't act so surprised, but I've been spoiled by some pretty amazing places to trail ride. There were some decent areas that we even got a trot and a lope in, and Jingle did wicked. I guess when I moved Jingle to the barn, and with the ranch shutting down, I kind of saw my real trail riding days as over. A lot of people see hacking down the road, or what-not, a "trail ride", to me, exploring, rivers, foothills, moss cliffs, getting lost and being nowhere near civilization, 4-6 hour rides.. that's a trail ride. However, these ladies informed us that in the summer, they can head all the way into mountain country, and spend all day on what sounds like, some pretty good trails! So, that's exciting!

Me & my boy.

I did keep Jingle's boots on for the ride - he does bash his legs pretty decently due to his toed in front left, and with the sharp ice, sticks, etc. I didn't want to risk it. The snow wasn't too deep so the boots didn't soak through and get wet on his legs, which was good. All my ranch friends will laugh at this - my horse is so spoiled and pampered, haha, I know.

Another shot of the two of us in front of the local elementary/jr. high.

I was really pleased with Jingle, and happy about the whole ride. He danced a bit in the back, but was listening to me, and I was able to ride him in a loose rein in the front, and back of the pack. He happily loped and trotted, and didn't spook or anything like that. Jingle was my trail horse for a year in 2011, but I barely rode him out on the trail at all this year for various reasons. Plus, he's never been exactly your dead broke-calm trail horse anyways.

I think it was the perfect thing for us to do, he just seemed a lot more calmed out by the whole experience. The ladies even commented how well behaved our horses were... what, you thought they wouldn't be? ;)

Jingle, post-ride.

During the ride, one of the ladies did comment, "Oh, look at those braids - a little indian pony!", and I took it as a little condescending haha. Her horse had a pulled mane. What can ya do? You win some, you lose some, and Jingle and I like our nice long braids!

So, all in all, really successful ride, and I was happy that I was able to read my horse correctly, and figure out a solution for his problem. I'm going to try to get a couple more of these rides in before the weather gets too nasty. But even when it starts to really get into winter I suppose I could even go for little hacks down the road or in the back fields. 

&, just because she reads the blog....

Later that night a bunch of us from the ranch went down to Ranchmans, we had a ton of fun...

Especially Brigitte...

;)

Trail Journal: 6; "A Fall Ride with Friends"

This post is long overdue, so I might as well get it out now while it's still topic (and weather) appropriate. The last two years friends from my ranch and I have headed out to Griffin Valley Ranch and done a bit of a fall "thanksgiving" trail-ride. A lot of the girls on the ride have volunteered there and one works there. It's a nice place to go for a little trail ride, and really close to the city! I still can't quite believe they let people go on unguided trail rides... craziness!

We headed out, expecting it to be freezing cold. I was bundled up in a long sleeve, two sweaters, a vest, my chaps, and gloves. However, it turned into a really nice afternoon fall day. I rode a big appaloosa named Sam, it felt weird to ride another horse, especially one I knew nothing about. This summer I predominately rode one horse, Cash, and then Jingle in the evenings, and when I was forced to ride another horse due to Cash going lame, I was an unhappy Riding Leader. I used to think I loved riding all sorts of different horses, but ... in my old age, I guess i'm becoming a one horse girl.

Fall in Alberta is definitely one of my favourite times of the year, all the colours, and the sunlight through the trees was pretty breathtaking.

Griffin has an interesting variety of horses, a true dude string of half-pony, half-quarter horse, half-who knows horses. Each horse was such a mutt, but they were all very well behaved and cute! One was even named Kesha - how silly.

Brigitte, our fearless leader.

Me and Sam... this is not a very flattering photo.

We did a bit of a loop, went on a big lope down a trail, and even did a little bit of log jumping!

The sun provided me with an insta-arty photo...

The crew heading back towards the Ranch...

Jon on "Randy", Myself on "Sam", Brigitte on "Reggie" and Laura on "Freckles"

... have I ever mentioned in this blog that I really don't like human names for horses? (Most of the time) So, it was quite amusing that most of the horses on this ride had human names.

All-in-All it was a really fun ride, and it was nice to get out on a trail again. Sam was a good horse, and I had fun on him. But, sorry Sam, you ain't no Jingle-horse.

& then, of course, the obligatory shot of Grand Valley Road.

A road that can lead anyone home.