Didder, Nike and Allie all got a
turn at once out on the trails Monday night!
Terry, her current German foreign exchange student Katy, and I had a
wonderful ride on the boys.
I exited work a half hour early
Monday so I would have time to groom the horses before their gentle workout. It
was perfect timing when Terry and Katy arrived with saddles in hand, because
Didder, Allie and Nike were all spiffy and tack-ready. We decided right off that during the ride
Katy and Nike would be sandwiched inbetwixt
the Didder/Susan team and the Allie/Terry team since they were the
Newbies.
Katy and Nike were fantastic together! 
Nike didn't put a foot out of place, and at
the only "iffy" moment when it seemed as though Nike was refusing to
cross the first brook, we laughed as we realized he was just taking a dump
before crossing. Who knew that Nike was
so environmentally conscious? Katy was good with Nike and had really nice seat,
legs and hands. Didder and I settled
into the leadership position. 
He tensely
noticed every little thing that had changed since B.D. S. (Before Deerfly
Season) including - "Egads!" - my neighbor Roland's power mower
parked on the lawn, but he didn't spook once.
I will have you know, Cyndi, that I practiced the advance/retreat method
with Didder during these episodes. Pat
and Linda would have been proud. ;)
Nike didn't put a foot out of place, and at
the only "iffy" moment when it seemed as though Nike was refusing to
cross the first brook, we laughed as we realized he was just taking a dump
before crossing. Who knew that Nike was
so environmentally conscious? Katy was good with Nike and had really nice seat,
legs and hands. Didder and I settled
into the leadership position. He tensely
noticed every little thing that had changed since B.D. S. (Before Deerfly
Season) including - "Egads!" - my neighbor Roland's power mower
parked on the lawn, but he didn't spook once.
I will have you know, Cyndi, that I practiced the advance/retreat method
with Didder during these episodes. Pat
and Linda would have been proud. ;)
It was such a lovely ride! Yes, there were deerflies, especially for us
at the front (with the navy blue ear net - blue...what was I thinking? Oh, yes,
right, it matched my navy blue helmet), but they were NOTHING like they have
been. 
I broke off a piece of hemlock and
stuck it under Didder's bridle crown, and that helped a lot to deter the little
buggers as well. It was cooler and less
humid, more like an early fall ride.
I broke off a piece of hemlock and
stuck it under Didder's bridle crown, and that helped a lot to deter the little
buggers as well. It was cooler and less
humid, more like an early fall ride.
Terry mentioned how much we luck
out when it comes to the weather for our rides.
God must be smiling on us! I'll take it!!!
Every time we came to an area
where we could do a little trotting and I suggested it to Katy, she was
game. I listened carefully to Nike's
footfalls and made sure my guest was happy and having fun. And, each time, yes, she was.
All of us were happy campers
afterwards.
We let the horses graze on
the lawn for a bit as a reward, and then once we brought them in the barn, they
mugged for more and we obliged.
We let the horses graze on
the lawn for a bit as a reward, and then once we brought them in the barn, they
mugged for more and we obliged.
I am hoping for repeats of lovely
little rides like this for the balance of the riding season. And of course, my riding season goes year round. ;)
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| Two good boys and their riders! |
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| The turkeys greeted us as we came back |
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| Timed selfie |
