Trail Hawk…
So, I have not been at the barn very much lately. Work is… overwhelming. So much to do, so little time. There was discussion about the team spending Memorial weekend in the office, but as it turns out we get the three days to mentally prepare for the next few weeks. Deb has been riding and working with him quite a bit, for which I am immensely grateful, since I have been so tied up. He is working his way back to sound – not completely there, but moving so much better with the steady exercise and new shoes. We start the Adaquan next week, so that should help, too
Friday night was glorious. What had been a hot, overcast afternoon gave way to a glorious, lightly- breezy evening. The clouds were blowing out, leaving billowy streaks across the sky. The first thing I did, when I left the office on time last Friday (for the first time in 2 weeks) was race directly out to check up on Hawkeye.
It was hopping. Everyone came out to take advantage of one of the first dry days in recent history. I bumped into one of the women with whom I am slowly striking up an acquaintance. She has a lovely quirky chestnut gelding, and I am enjoying both of them quite a bit. While chatting about our plans for the evening we discovered that neither of us had been around the bridle path that runs around the property. So with the high spirits that come with a break in the weather, we decided to take it on and see how our horses handled it.
I had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Hawkeye is still learning to trust me as his leader and is a bit greener than I thought when I was leasing him. In some ways these things are very new to him – so going out along the property line, outside of the fencing, crossing the creeks and not getting worked up by the ponies running along side of us in their pastures could have proven to be quite the adventure. Since I don’t have showing aspirations, I don’t plan to jump 3’6″ fences, most of my hopes about owning a horse are wrapped up in going on trail rides, and being comfortable that little things are not going to freak him out. He was completely calm and composed the entire time. He (fearlessly?!) led the way down the trail – tromping along in his big-boy walk. Ears up, paying attention to everything, I think he was really mentally enjoying being out of his paddock, and not working in the ring. He crossed the streams like an old hand, and never gave me a moments pause. He proved himself gloriously. I was very pleased and proud.
And, considering I am new at it all too, I don’t think I did too badly myself.
