Started out with Antoinette/Taj and Craig/Cheyenne. I had issues getting Mona across the street. With a little motivation from a lunge whip used as a dressage whip we got across.
As we crossed the stream Mona was a little anxious. I looked behind us and saw a couple riders coming up slowly behind us. As we went up the trail a little further, we took a right and we all tucked in so the the riders could pass.
Craig was leading and after the horses went by Cheyenne started to act up. Craig thought it was because Mona upset her. He rode back to the barn solo.
With Cheyenne heading back to the barn, Mona wanted to as well. I told her no we were continuing on. After a couple minutes we were following patient Taj.
Mona was worried and curious about things and noises around us. Over all though she was doing well. We went up the hill that she would really like to canter up but I put her behind Taj and she walked. HeHe
Then we took the first right on top of the hill and then went left. There is a dip there and is a load of fun. Mona went first and sorta spooked at the fallen tree at the bottom then mosied up the other side. Awesome horsie! HeHe
Then Antoinette asked if I would like to ride to the covered bridge. We had to go up to the field where the last time we went through, there was some guys shooting guns target practicing. Mona I think remembered as it took some encouraging her to move forward. As she did! HeHe
We went through the tunnel and headed to a trail I love. As we were getting to the field to get to trail there was a group of about 10 people walking up the road. Mona was unsure about them. It took a bit of coaxing to get her going in the right direction. As she did! HeHe
Antionette and I both thought getting a branch of some sort for the bridge, just in case, would be a good idea. Antionette located a nice branch and handed it to me for modification. I must have snapped pieces off the branch at least 3 times. Mona just stood still. HeHe
On we go. We get to a field and on the other side of a building there were horses coming up towards us and other horses cantering on the bottom of the hill away from us. Mona just walked next to Taj. HeHe
When we got to the bridge I just looked at the other side and me and Antoinette were talking and Mona was worried but never stopped. The last couple of strides coming out of the bridge she trotted but over all she did awesome! Branch not needed. HeHe
We walked by people and dogs and trailers and picnic tables. And I led her through puddles of water. A car was following us slowly. Again, awesome! HeHe
Next is a bridge with high sides over running water. Again, no branch needed. As we came to the other side there were a couple horses. As we went on the trail to the left we could hear them going over the bridge. Mona was a little worried but handle it all in stride. I ditched the branch. HeHe
We walked along a fairly narrow trail and up ahead down on the gravel road there was a tractor. Mona couldn't care less. HeHe
We took a left turn into a field that eventually led us to Appleton Rd and we took the bridge with low sides. There was a lot of traffic going by. Taj and Mona did a little spook but we think it was probably the horses in the field on the other side of the bridge. Both walked over the bridge with traffic going under with no issues. Mona actually put her head down to the bridge to smell it. Have I said how much I love my horse! HeHe
Next we took the fields back to the trail by the barn. Mona did awesome! She stayed at a walk even though there were a couple times she really did want to trot/canter off. One of these days she will have that opportunity. I actually can't wait!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Second Solo Ride
Yesterday, Turkey Day, I decided to go to the barn to spend some time with Mona. I saddled her up, put her bridle on her and a helmet on my head and we went out for a hike (I was walking with her, not riding). I walked her across the street, with some strong coaxing (she gets some bad vibe or something over there).
We no sooner get across the street then we hear some kids running through the woods just being kids. But to Mona I think she thought the woods were alive. She wanted so bad to turn around and run. Her knees were shaking and her head was up and her eyes were all bugged out.
I stopped her and had her face the young boys. Two of them came out of the woods and one of them called back to the other two still in the woods coming our way as well to be quiet there was a horse. He apologized for scaring Mona. He actually said "I'm sorry ma'am for scaring your horse". So cute. He asked if she was friendly and patted Mona's nose. Then he said, "the other boys are coming and we are playing. They are after us. I said go ahead. You got a lead as Mona makes a good block as she was still facing the woods the trail was blocked.
Mona at this point was a little calmer but not by much. We weren't but a few yards from the road at this point. I'm thinking probably not going to get to ride her. But we hiked on.
We came to the stream and for some reason when she crossed the stream she came over to me. So I turned her around and I was going to mount her as there is a high embankment and I could practictly step over on her. As I prepared to do this she walked off. Guess I wasn't ready to mount. Probably just as well.
As we walked up the hill after the stream, Mona heared or sensed something and she was all upset again. I'm thinking this was probably not a good idea. We walked a bit further as up around the corner is a bike ramp that makes for a good mounting block. I looked at Mona's eyes and her knees and her breathing and thought not yet.
So we doubled back the way we came. I'm thinking at this point there is no way I'm going to safely ride her.
I thought about mounting her where Sara mounted Peanut and I have mounted Cheyenne. Again, I looked at Mona and thought - no not yet.
I kept looking at the sides of the trail looking for a downed tree/log something to mount Mona. We came back across the stream. At this point we are hearing the boys again. I am talking to Mona telling her the voices are the boys she just met.
We walked across the field and I looked at Mona again. She was still very worried and we could see the boys. They were with their, I'm assuming Dad, who was sitting near a tree enjoying the sound of the stream and the ray of sun coming through the trees.
I decided, even though she still looked worried, she was going to work through it and I was going to ride her back to the barn. She stood perfectly still and she got her treat for being so good. Her head was high as we took the little turn to the left as there in full view were 4 noisey boys and a man. I let her take it all in. Then I talked to her and we walked up to and past the boys.
She was still nervous but I really think she felt a little better with me on her. It was not what I had expected at all. Mona stopped a couple tmes and I relaxed her head and coaxed her on. I started singing 100 bottles of beer on the wall to keep me relaxed the rest of the way back to the barn. She did great working through her fear. She even walked down the hills where when we are with other riders she likes to trot down.
I did not get to ride as much as I wanted to but I did get to ride. And considering how nervous she was, I think we did ok. When back to the barn, I groomed/moisterized her mane and tail. She was all kinds of relaxed after her spa treatment.
We no sooner get across the street then we hear some kids running through the woods just being kids. But to Mona I think she thought the woods were alive. She wanted so bad to turn around and run. Her knees were shaking and her head was up and her eyes were all bugged out.
I stopped her and had her face the young boys. Two of them came out of the woods and one of them called back to the other two still in the woods coming our way as well to be quiet there was a horse. He apologized for scaring Mona. He actually said "I'm sorry ma'am for scaring your horse". So cute. He asked if she was friendly and patted Mona's nose. Then he said, "the other boys are coming and we are playing. They are after us. I said go ahead. You got a lead as Mona makes a good block as she was still facing the woods the trail was blocked.
Mona at this point was a little calmer but not by much. We weren't but a few yards from the road at this point. I'm thinking probably not going to get to ride her. But we hiked on.
We came to the stream and for some reason when she crossed the stream she came over to me. So I turned her around and I was going to mount her as there is a high embankment and I could practictly step over on her. As I prepared to do this she walked off. Guess I wasn't ready to mount. Probably just as well.
As we walked up the hill after the stream, Mona heared or sensed something and she was all upset again. I'm thinking this was probably not a good idea. We walked a bit further as up around the corner is a bike ramp that makes for a good mounting block. I looked at Mona's eyes and her knees and her breathing and thought not yet.
So we doubled back the way we came. I'm thinking at this point there is no way I'm going to safely ride her.
I thought about mounting her where Sara mounted Peanut and I have mounted Cheyenne. Again, I looked at Mona and thought - no not yet.
I kept looking at the sides of the trail looking for a downed tree/log something to mount Mona. We came back across the stream. At this point we are hearing the boys again. I am talking to Mona telling her the voices are the boys she just met.
We walked across the field and I looked at Mona again. She was still very worried and we could see the boys. They were with their, I'm assuming Dad, who was sitting near a tree enjoying the sound of the stream and the ray of sun coming through the trees.
I decided, even though she still looked worried, she was going to work through it and I was going to ride her back to the barn. She stood perfectly still and she got her treat for being so good. Her head was high as we took the little turn to the left as there in full view were 4 noisey boys and a man. I let her take it all in. Then I talked to her and we walked up to and past the boys.
She was still nervous but I really think she felt a little better with me on her. It was not what I had expected at all. Mona stopped a couple tmes and I relaxed her head and coaxed her on. I started singing 100 bottles of beer on the wall to keep me relaxed the rest of the way back to the barn. She did great working through her fear. She even walked down the hills where when we are with other riders she likes to trot down.
I did not get to ride as much as I wanted to but I did get to ride. And considering how nervous she was, I think we did ok. When back to the barn, I groomed/moisterized her mane and tail. She was all kinds of relaxed after her spa treatment.
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