We had planned on riding because the weather was SUPPOSED to be clear and in the high 40s, better weather day than Sunday. The weather forecast deteriorated on Saturday morning, starting out clear, but quickly becoming overcast and the temps never getting much past 40. Ride out time was 10:00 a.m.
Martin and Tracy got there first, unlocked the gate. Joan and Filip also were there. After that several more trailers came in.
We had thought, briefly, about riding to Beck's, but none of us wanted to ride to somewhere that we hadn't been before, plus some of the way was on the road.
Instead we rode to the Woodstock Inn, planning on taking a longer way there, but with the weather going South, we made a bee-line instead. On the way we ran into the League's 'official' photographer and he said he had put pictures on his website of us when he last saw us. He had taken a picture of me, taking a picture of him!
When we first came out into the meadow Tom and Skip had a slight missunerstanding, ground work ensued. Tom also cut a stick off a tree, every single time he touched Skip with the twig, Skip kicked out with one leg.
In the open meadow we all decided to canter up the hill and KC decided to buck. I immediately popped him in the mouth with a one-rein stop and he slammed on the brakes. I managed to stay on, miraculously. He was pretty good the rest of the ride.
With the weather going downhill there were not too many bikers at the Woodstock Inn, however, there were bicyclists parked in front of the hitching post. They rode up while we were getting our horses settled in and were completely unaware that that was a hitching post and that they shouldn't park there. Tom thinks he should make a sign and attach it to the post.
The other hitching post recently had the top rail replaced; the horses that are tied up there are eating the wood like hungry Beavers. It won't be long before it's whittled down to nothing, again.
The Woodstock Inn was not busy and service was great! The 'chef' was creative and we really enjoyed our lunch. The weather has not improved, getting chilly. We hurry back to the trailers. I feel rain drops, here and there.
It was lightly sprinkling when we got back to the trailers, we said our good-byes, hugs all around and hear a kerfluffle on the other side of our trailer. It sounded sort of metallic and then we hear yelling. Tom and Martin run over and another rider now is on the ground, yelling. Her horse kicked her in the gut, knocked the wind out of her. Eventually she does get up, but we're all freaking out. Skip in particular is upset about this.
It is raining in earnest while driving home. We put them in the barn with hay and water, running for the house. It then started snowing, huge flakes. Didn't put their blankets on until late in the evening, after it had finally stopped snowing and they were dry. They all spent the night outside.
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