First Trail Ride in about a month

Last Saturday I went out for a ride with another boarder.  It was scheduled to be about 1.5 hour ride. We went across the field to the bridge over Appleton rd.  We came across our first bikers before hitting the bridge.  We stopped and let them go by. Mona didn't even flinch.  She did well over the bridge.  We took a new trail across from the park's parking lot.  We came across bikers.  As long a Mona could see them come and go she was good.  One time we rode away as the biker was riding away and Mona spooked up to Taj. He took it like a champ.  The next time we tried this Mona practically spooked into a tree.  It's then I realized that, duh, I needed to stop and let her watch the bike drive away.  It was a beautiful day and this trail is a great trail for bikers.  (Also a great trail for shoeless horses with sensitive feet - Taj was shoeless and didn't take one bad step) Our goal was to go to the covered bridge.  We came to a spot where we were pretty sure we had missed the trail that went to the bridge.  We decided to turn around and try to find it.  We must have turned the horses around at least 3 times before we located it!  They were both troopers and took it all in stride.  When we went to turn on the trail, Mona and I stopped and Taj stopped right behind Mona.  She kicked a warning shot at him that he was too close.  She never did that to him.  I was worried that she and Taj wouldn't be able to walk side by side any more.  No worries. They did just fine. When going down the upper trail that goes along the river, I remembered the last time I rode that trail.  I was on Gene and there were dogs and he ended up moving backwards.  Not cool as there is a pretty sharp drop there.  Thankfully Sara was able to walk up to us and coax Gene forward by taking the lead.  YAY Sara and Peanut! : D  (That was the first time Sara and Peanut led on trail.  That was a few years ago.  Now Sara and Peanut ride solo.) Mona still spooks going through the covered bridge.  The echoing sound of their feet has her trotting.  Once she comes out she is good.  This time there was a car coming into the parking area. She must have thought it was chasing her as she gave a little trot.  She calmed down.  Then a park ranger was coming down the road in a pickup truck.  Mona was trotty.  I was trying to stop her and get her to look at the truck.  The woman driving came up slowly and talked to me.  Once Mona saw the truck she calmed down.  The driver said she saw Mona's ears go back and realized she was worried.  So nice :)  Then walking over the other bridge - Mona trotted a bit here as well.  Nothing big.  We ventured out on another trail and ended up in a field.  We trotted through the field Mona easily pulling ahead.  We missed the entrance of the trail and had to turn around.  I still need work on being comfortable trotting in open fields.  Now that Mona has gotten some speed she was all ready to keep trotting.  Over all though she stayed at a walk really well.  We ended up on part of the green trail and came to the field.  This time we agreed to keep it at a walk.  Mona listened very well.  As we came up to the Appleton bridge we came upon riders Taj's rider knew and she asked if it was OK if we went down to say hi.  I'm game!  Mona on the other hand took forever to get down to the trailers.  We did make it though.  I'm just as stubborn as she.  LOL Then we went back up to go over the Appleton bridge.  She walked over no problems.  We walked back through the field.    Somewhere in there we took over the lead.  Even though I haven't ridden Mona on trail in about a month, she did really well.  We ended up out for about 2.5 hours.  I'm really glad I had been lunging her almost every weekend.  She was just starting to act tired near the end.  Good to know she has the stamina for a 3 hour ride not a problem if I chose. : )  I love my girl!