I went trail riding today! (and a question)

[Cindyg]

Today was our fourth trail ride. We rode about 20 minutes, and I didn't get off once! We had one small spook, but nothing scary. (I know small spooks can turn into big scares, but this one didn't.)

Ivan is very wound up on the way out, and very quiet on the way back. My dim memory of my long-ago nice horse (when I was a teenager) is the opposite -- he was normal on the way out and all worked up on the way back (anxious to get home). For those of you who trail ride -- is your horse more hyper going out or coming back?

Ivan clearly loves to go out. As soon as he saw me get the saddle, he left his pile of hay and went to the gate. :)

[Ottakee]

Romeo was more hyper going out and then settled down coming home. I dont' know how much was him vs. how much was me. I was likely more nervous going with all of the "what ifs" while on the way home I was more settled down as we had already passed everything once already so I would relax more---does that make sense?

Good to hear you got in a nice trail ride. If you can, read some of John Lyon's stuff. He is SO encouraging with riding where you can, not where you can't, looking for the small steps of progress, saying that getting off is NOT a failure, etc.

See my post for horse pictures (I hope)

[Remudamom]

Mimi is more jumpy at the beginning of a ride. Since we work so much while we're out on the trail she's usually very quiet on the way home.

When Jedi takes me out in the cart she spooks at everything on the way out, but nothing can distract her on the way home. She likes to use scary things as an excuse to try to turn around and head back.

It sounds like you are progressing in leaps and bounds. 20 minutes and no dismounts is nothing to sneeze at. Congratulations.

And a wave of the riding crop in the general direction of your trail riding neighbor.