On The Road Again~

Finally!  A day to ride, trails were again closed due to yesterday morning's thunderstorm.  Roxi invited me over & I was more than ready to get in a ride.  Farah was fine when I picked her up - but when we'd been by on Sunday - the face flies were out in force.  I bought a second fly mask, she's wearing it full time.  The Shoofly leggings are working GREAT!

A new pond~

 Roxi was riding Copper & he was all business - as all Roxi's horses are.  Farah was just full of herself - I guess a week off when she's this fit was too long...  We weren't out more than maybe a mile when she suddenly shied left - upon which I lost my seat & then started bucking!  All of this - as she went into a gallop.  I heard Roxi say; "Hang ON!" & boy howdy was I!  Roxi said she was surprised, since up until now, she hadn't seen this side of Farah's personality :-)

The corn is growing!

 Grabbing mane & cussing her at the same time!  The absolute last thing I wanted to do was to come off & land on that gravel!  There is no way you could hit it & not be torn to shreds...

The ears say it all~

 So fine, just fine - I let her go & she did Go...  Yes - I kept telling myself - forward motion!  She did get a serious chastising as we blasted along.  We hit 19.5 on my Garmin & she was still pulling for more rein, one step away from run-a-way...

Roxi on Coppers Eclipse

 I felt Great Relief when Roxi turned off into the field above & the dirt footing felt so soft after the hard packed road.  It must have been a relief to the horses too, I'm sure.  Typically a trail is mowed along the Nishnabotna River river, but it hadn't been done yet & the grass was chest high on the horses.  A ditch between us & the river & it was wet down there.  It would be fun to see if we could find a place to get to the water - but it's difficult here - the rivers are so full of silt.

A field of Soy Beans on our other side~

Farah finally settled down on our return trip.  During her bucking episode, the zipper on my camera must have come loose, because when I pulled her up to take a photo - the camera was gone.  (My smartphone had to fill in.)  It's traveled a whole lot of miles with us & this was a first.  We found it laying in the middle of the road on our way back.  A few nasty scratches, but not broken & still working!

Part of our route~

I know that Roxi's training route is 20-miles, but I was feeling the workout & my right side was sore.  We were already over 8-miles out.  By the time we'd returned to the farm - we'd done fifteen-miles in under two-hours.  We washed both horses down, then went in to enjoy the Watermelon Roxi had cut up before we left.  A little salt & I think we must have inhaled it!  We're ready for a 50 - now - if Butch can get the time & we can find the right ride.

Road Ridin' ~

Another gorgeous day dawned, without the threat of thunderstorms.  Cody had kindly driven up to shoe Farah on Monday.  She'd had the same shoes on for ten-weeks!  Breaking all records & way longer than I'd ever had her padded.  Since her feet grow so slow anyway - her angles were still good, but it was a relief to get those pads off & find that her hooves were still OK under them!

Back to my roots~

We pulled into Roxi's on time, I have to say I've not had the motivation to ride that I should have.  Years of riding alone & pushing for miles has taken away some of the glow.  Possibly age has something to do with it too...  But - now - having a friend to ride with - really makes a difference.  Farah is so happy to be moving out again, she & Roxi's mare seemed to get on fine.

Once we were out on the roads, it was almost like I was a kid again, riding out from Grandma's & seeing how far I could get before it was time to turn back.   Grandma would ask where I'd gone & one day when I mentioned the name of a very small town - Spalding - she said;  "What?!  You were all the way over there?!"  :-)   It was riding all those road miles that hooked me on distance in the first place.

This little baby Raccoon -  was crying at the bottom of the tree~

We just cruised right along - the County had recently rocked one of the roads - we had no choice but to take it easy & stay on the shoulder.  Of course the Big Tractor was out with a huge mowing blade working on the shoulders.  (Are there small tractor's in IA?)  Farah did better than I expected, it was nice that Dejets took the lead - handling the noise & dust with total aplomb.

Tough, solid & watchful!

We moved out the first half of the ride, then walked some of the way back.  As I keep telling Roxi, it's not the gold girl that needs conditioning - it's her rider!  :-)  It's crazy how much I feel like I've lost of my own condition - but determination must count for something!

Wild Roses~

The wild roses above literally lined the road for miles!  I'm bringing a shovel next time & bringing a start or two home.  

Out & back

We covered ten-miles & again - once I'm in Farah's saddle - the world becomes a brighter, shinier place~