A Tricky Ride

A Tricky Ride

I was out on a ride with my sister, the other day.  Of course, I was on Cole, and she was on Dante.  She was a bit more nervous than she has been because the weather was very brisk--normal for October, but it had been a very warm month up until this point.  Most horses get a little friskier in the cooler weather.  She was afraid Dante would misbehave.

We rode out to the second river, and though a tiny bit faster, Dante was just fine.  Ellen was all set to turn around there and go home, but it was such a pretty day, I convinced her to cross the river and do another section of trail.  Dante has been crossing at that crossing like a champ for weeks, now.  It really was no big deal at all.

I crossed first and waited for her on the other side.  (Ever since the time that Cole slipped and fell in the water--causing Starry to fall, too, we cross one at a time.)  About half way across the river, Dante started to rush.  He was still walking, but really, really fast.  It scared Ellen, but she did get him to walk before he got to the other side of the water.

We trotted to the bottom of the hill and walked up.  I was about half way up when I heard Ellen trying to stop Dante--he tried running up the hill.  It wouldn't be such a big deal on an ordinary hill, but this hill is very rutted.  We have to guide the horses in between the ruts.  Ellen's biggest worry was that Dante would cause Cole to run up the hill, too.  Though Cole wouldn't stop for me, he did stay at a walk.  Dante stopped well before he reached Cole, but that shook Ellen up, too.

We did some trotting and walking up there, turned around and headed towards home.  She was very nervous about crossing the river, but Dante did it in flying colors; making us both proud.  Once on the other side, we heard sirens.  A park ranger's car was coming our way; fast.  Ellen leaped off Dante; startling him, and he inadvertently stepped on her foot--really bad.  Dante's dancing caused Cole to spook, too.  Then again, he may have spooked at the ranger's car flying over the ford with the lights and siren going.  Dante didn't like the looks of that, either.  It took a bit for them to settle down.

Ellen figured, where there was one, there would be two, so she decided to lead until after the second one.  Sure enough, a couple minutes later another patrol car came tearing down the street.  It was too far away for them to see, but the sirens didn't scare them at all.

Ellen decided to get back on Dante.  She likes to mount with a mounting block or log, but if none is convenient, if I get off and hold her stirrup, she can mount fine.  I have no trouble mounting from the ground--Cole is short.  I helped her get into the saddle and was about to climb aboard Cole when we heard loud engines.  We saw a parade of hot rods and old cars coming our way!  Ellen hopped off, and I stayed on the ground.

It was the old car rally.  We have had trouble with them every year, and I think I write about it each time.  Last time, Dante was fine, Kevin took Starry right up to the street to watch them--and Cole had a meltdown.  I thought our ride was ruined.

We weren't close to the street, so we led them.  Where the trail did get close, we stopped them and waited for that cluster to go by.  Cole would immediately park out when he was waiting.  I was clicking him for it, and when he thought the clicks weren't coming fast enough, he would bow.  We worked our way down the trail this way.  At no time did either horse misbehave!  I was so proud of Cole for redeeming himself.

We made it home safe and sound.

The next day, Ellen was all stressed about crossing the river where Dante rushed.  I am glad to say, Dante was fine.  When Ellen replayed the incident in her mind, she realized that she had gotten nervous in the water and started squeezing her legs.  She did the same on the hill.  Since she has been working with Dante to just move off with a light squeeze of the legs, we think Dante was doing just what he thought she wanted him to do!  He was being a good boy.  Ellen was more careful with her legs, and all went well.