Sunday, October 21, 2012

October Surprise

Sunday we decided late in the morning (I didn't get up until 9!) to go for a ride. We usually take long rides, so probably not going to have time to do laundry, go to the grocery or anything else. Of course I want to ride!

We sat at the end of the driveway for several minutes, deciding. We are so lucky to have numerous destinations close at hand. We decided to go to the League!

The League was hosting the 4-day challenge, which runs from Thursday until Sunday, the grounds are not closed during this annual event. The numbers are down this year, eleven riders were competing. We have attended, but never ridden. It does live up to its name: Challenge.

When we arrived he noticed our friend's trailer first. It is a 'kid's weekend' and didn't expect to see them there. Surprise!

She was there, without him, with two friends who are apparently timid, slow riders. We decided to join them, and it was a slow, short ride.

I enjoyed her friends - both have gorgeous horses. I am still stunned that they trailered all that way and rode 6 miles - what a waste of a beautiful Sunday in October. I would love to ride with them again, but was sorry to see one of them correct her paint, Sterling, for loping - he has a wonderful lope.

We all had been warned that their horses did not like trains, but when a train came along the horses seemed to not even notice. At the junction we said Adios and went in the direction of the Woodstock. By now it is around 1:30.

We trotted the entire way to the road, crossed and traveled along the rail road tracks. I noticed a rider coming up behind us and was surprised, again, to know it was someone we hadn't seen in over four years. Wendy, on a Palomino (Sunset) came behind us; I knew she has had some serious health issues and is now getting back to riding.

We invited her to ride along with us if she wanted and she did. She was riding alone, but didn't feel totally comfortable doing that, and certainly didn't want to get lost. I also remembered that she was not afraid of speed, so when we were able we stepped up the pace. I promised her we would not get lost.

Another train came by, but we were too far away to see it. Wendy had camped out from Tuesday until Monday but did not participate in the 4-day, although she has in the past. KC was really good, he was kind of bossy with Sunset, and then Sunset untied himself at the Woodstock

- saw lots of deer, too, and a couple Herons and Mallards. We did not get lost.

And of course he had to be the show-off and and say 'you'd better hold your horse back cause I'm going to really go!' I said, 'be careful of the mud." And I got to see him almost fall off of Skip - I know, I know. They hit a mud patch and Skip's feet came out from under him - front end going one way, back end going the other - and Tom listing sharply to the left trying to do a header off the front - but Skip pulled himself out of it and tom got righted and there you have it! He would have gotten muddy/dirty and it was unnecessary. Fairly straight, flat, but it was muddy/slippery. We did have to hurry back because we left the Woodstock Inn at 4:30 ish.


We're back to chasing daylight. *sigh*

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