Similar ride, different outcome.
Beautiful Sunday! The wind had died down, finally, and it was going to be a lovely day for a ride. The stiff breeze had dried out the mud spots, too.
This day was also day two of the grounds clean-up weekend. We did not participate. There has been much activity at the club this year. Electrical upgrades and tree trimming and clearing. Chainsaws and power tools were in full force. There is one pine that was dead in the general camping area that needed to come down, like last year. No bark on it, crispy brown limbs, all the needles have fallen off, like a neglected Christmas tree.
We were dilly-dallying with this and that, waiting for the others to get tacked up. While we discussed which way to go out: left, right, down and straight, the tractor now was up against the dead tree and the chainsaw was buzzing. Our horses don't care about the farm noises, we use plenty of power tools, sometimes right under their feet. While we were deciding on which way to go, the first chainsaw was replaced with another. At that same time we decided we would go left, putting us going right past the tractor and dead tree. I had barely got myself into the saddle when the tree fell, breaking at the trunk and slowly going down. KC spun around and I was more off than on, so I stepped off. That set the tone for the first half of the ride. Amped up and wary.
We proceeded left, out of camp and KC was pretty antsy. Maybe he thought more trees would topple over. We went down the trail, him going sideways some of the time, and that abrupt rocky trot that I hate. I tried to stay in front to set the speed.
After the Archery Club I made the sharp right into the woods, following the trail that is seldom used. It was a lovely day and everyone calmed down.
At the bottom of the hill we crossed the train tracks and got into the river. The small pools are full of frog eggs! While coming out of the river I scanned the trail left and right to make sure no bikes or hikers or dogs were going to be in the way when five horses came up the river bank and noticed a BALD EAGLE in the tree watching us. I had heard there was at least one down this way but never caught a glimpse of it.
We turned left and picked up speed along the trail when it was appropriate and KC was perfect. We encountered three riders that appeared lost because they were on the pedestrian trail that had no good creek crossing for horses, but they said they were not lost. We choose the higher trail on the far side of the river and wound our way through the mountain laurel and ravines. What a delightful day!
We again picked up speed along the river plain, hopping over logs. He was much better this day, not over-jumping the logs on the ground. We crossed the road and took the trail to the right and took the same path as last week. While I was planning on staying in the woods, to control his speed, Filip took a hard right into the field, leaving me and him in the woods. Uh Oh is right!
Filip double-backed, going in the opposite direction than we were heading and we cut back to follow them, but they had already started cantering through the field.
You would think after all this time, I'd either be good with the bucking or he would have outgrown it. He bucked right into Skip - and we stopped. Finally got ourselves together and went on again, much better.
We caught up with them and resumed in the right direction and I tried to stay close to the front to manage his anxious attitude.
When we got back to the river there was a rider in the water, but her horse was just standing. On the far bank was another rider and two loose dogs. When she got in the water I noticed she also had a dog on her lap. O boy! We waited until they got themselves together and the brown dog reunited with the rest of them.
We had lunch at the Woodstock Inn and KC had an attitude adjustment while he rested. On the way back he was stellar. We stopped by Fox Rock quarry, the same quarry where rock was sent to Baltimore for the granite steps and to the Capitol construction in Washington, DC, and curbs and window sills in Annapolis.
We also visited the 'witch' in the '58 Chevy.
After we crossed the river, again, into McKeldin we picked up the pace. I tried to stay in front, but Filip got ahead of me and while we were talking about Becky's stirrups being too short, Filip whirled around and took off - so did I! I let KC fly up the hill right behind him and he was so good, no bucking or throwing his head down. At the top of the hill I could hear thundering hooves so I urged KC to go faster. He was breathing pretty hard by this time, but I kept at him and could see a car parked in the roadway and kids playing basketball. I kept KC going straight and Skip passed us pretty darn good.
While we were airing up at the corner a woman drove by and blew her horn. Why? I yelled out to her, calling her a name, and Filip said he must be getting old because normally he would chase after someone like that. Yea, we are getting old.
When we got back home there was plenty of daylight left to give the boys a bubble bath. Skip smells like vinegar and they have been wearing their coats for so long, it seemed like a good idea. We use EZAll - no affiliation - but it is a great system and they stay cleaner longer. I highly recommend using it.
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