Gettin' Ready~

Mt. Pilchuck ~

It was a simply stunning day - another of sunshine with a breeze.  We're now seeing so many days like these - there's no way not to think our weather is changing.

See the butterfly?

I wanted to do a long ride & get in some solid trotting - Farah is about as ready as I can make her for another ride at Mt. Adams.  Going, gives us something to work toward as far as our fitness is concerned.  This year I wanted to give her the faster work we missed the past couple years.

Far trails~

We went around the mountain, then headed down to the Main Line.  It's 2.5 miles from below the pumping station, to the turn for the lower trails.  They do need some work & are on the list for the June 6th trail-clearing.  No way to make any time here - I wanted to see if I could remember the way to the river.

Low~

We found it!  There was also a big pile of debris that mostly blocked the way down to the water.

Looking at the way we came down~

It is on a little bend in the river, so the natural place for things to pile up.  I was still surprised, since I didn't think the water levels were as high this year.  So shallow, we walked out to the middle & stood for a long while - I watched as Farah's heart rate dropped & dropped :-)  She yawned & would have gone to sleep I think!  :-)  We celebrated her ninth birthday this week!  Incredible to me that we're coming up on our fourth anniversary together!

In the river~

On the way back, I let her decide which way to go & she chose a way that ended with a dead-end.  Then, we found another trail took it to a old road.  We heard voices!  These ladies didn't know much about where they were either & would have sent us the wrong direction.  I again gave Farah a choice & she took a trail that put us right up at the gate on 15th!  Good girl.  Coming back up the big hill she likes her run & this day we flew!  Hitting her top speed ever!  At the top, we scattered four guys on bikes who'd been in the middle of the intersection :-)

It took us longer than I'd expected, but our average moving pace was up where I wanted to see it - I think we're as ready as we can get :-)

Sunshine Ride!

11-mile loop

Another amazing day in the Great Northwest!  Jennifer & Lynn planned a ride up my way - so I called Linda & she figured that our times would work out well enough that she could meet us on the trail.

Linnea, Jennifer & Linda

We met-up & headed up "Baby Bear" trail - at the top was this perfect place with Lots of fresh grass for those poor starved horses :-)  The temperature was perfect, not too many bugs out & we really had fun - doing some "swishing" through the trees on the wonderful open trails.

Blooming Elderberry in the blazing sunshine!

Later in the afternoon we started running into bicycles, but they were mannerly as usual & offered to make way.  Instead, Jennifer though we should turn back & allow them the room to get out onto the road - which worked - because at least then we could do the trotting that we usually DO on that trail~

Horse Trailer Parking

I have to say how nice it was to see horse trailers in the Horse Trailer parking!  Once Jennifer pulled in & one more trailer - the lot was full up!  That's a Good Thing!  Thanks for a Great ride ladies!

Another 30+ Mile Week~

Smooth, fast ride~

As usual, I'm in awe of Joyce's natural innate ability to lay out a ride.  This one was smooth, gave us a couple really nice trotting loops on good footing & kept us off the wet & muddy trails most of the route.

We left after 11 a.m.  with only two other trailers in the parking area.  Never did run into anyone out there - but the area can easily hide many, many riders :-)  Once the worst of the competitive edge was worked off with what uphill trotting we could find, our two horses settled down & impressed us with their steady over 10+ mph. trot. 

Farah has taken to trying to intimidate geldings - if I bring her behind them, she tries to nip them on the butt.  If she's with another mare, such as Dena's Bella & snarls at her...  Bella just snarls back!  :-)  Today Jesse just did his level best to ignore her!  Just as we were heading back, the first of the sprinkles hit - by the time we were at the trailer parking, the wind came up in a rush & the rain hit sideways!  Perfect timing!

More Exploring~

Pushing further north~

So much for the weatherman!  No rain yesterday - just broken sunshine & very warm afternoon temps!  I had a bunch of stuff to get done, errands to run, but by mid-afternoon there were still hours of daylight left, so I saddled Farah & we took off to see how much futher we could go on our newly rediscovered trails west of the power lines.

Heading west

It's three-miles up to the power lines, then we crossed over & found a easier way through the woods to get down the big downhill, rather than sliding on the loose rock.  The only gnarly place is what I'm now referring to as the slide!

The "Slide"

Lots of roots sticking out up top, then a collected slide into the mud hole, then a sharp up - to the old trail.  Loose rein, we did Great, until Farah had to rush the last little jump - she was chastised & knew she'd goofed :-)

A high open area almost at our farthest point north.

Every chance, I turned north & we made it quite a ways before coming up on two houses that blocked that particular trail.  It made a gradual turn to the west, so I stayed on it.  We came upon a very large water puddle with tire tracks going in.  I wasn't too concerned as Farah stepped in, until I looked ahead & realized that the water was very murky!  With her next step, Farah went from knee deep, to chest deep as she dropped into what was a very deep hole!  She didn't panic, just stepped up & out like a champ!

Well deserved break~!

Reward?  Oh yes!  Fresh grass!  Nothing better!  We tried another trail that had been bulldozed in, it was taking us the right direction home, but it dead-ended in brush & the tractor had given up & turned back.  We back-tracked & headed out the way we'd come in.  The day had turned dark, the wind picked up & we made it home with a round-trip time of 2-1/2 hours for the 11 miles. 

Riding in the Rain~

Farah enjoys the smorgasbord!

I actually did try to find someone to ride with - without success.  In retrospect, so glad I didn't!  This ride was all about Farah.  Decided to let her do what she wanted to do & see what it got me.  What I got - was the most fun I've had in forever!  We left the parking area at a trot!  Yes, usually I let a horse warm-up, but she'd been out all morning & wanted to go!  Part of the "deal" I made with her.  What a trot it was!   Over 14 mph  - fast, straight, consistent for just over 2-miles!   She slowed to her walk for a mile or so, then we trotted right up the first two hills - where she took another breather & ate grass while I took pictures :-)  Again we headed up - nice collected trot to the top.  Loose rein with contact the entire way.

It was no surprise to find that the view east was totally socked in.  We headed over to the west side & were rewarded by breaking cloud cover that revealed a soaked landscape.

West from the Monument

Was someone coming?  Not likely!

 After a short break, with heavy clouds moving in quickly from the south, I decided to start back.  Once over the top of the ridge & onto the east side, the sky lightened.  I could have spent the day watching natures show...  instead I pulled out my new waterproof smartphone & tried out it's video to capture this~

On the way back, as we headed up, Farah dropped her head, lifted her back, dropped her rear & moved into a gallop with one of the smoothest transitions I've ever ridden!  We started flying!  Again - straight, true, not even the glimmer of a spook!   Up to 18 mph by the time we reached the summit.  Yippee!  Deep breath & on we went!  All this & only the start of what is her first real year of conditioning!

Riding at Kathryn Taylor

Kathryn Taylor Ride~

Oh what an incredible day!  As I went to turn into Kathryn Taylor, the gates were closed!  Men working inside, grading & re-graveling the trailer parking area.  The gate wasn't locked, so I walked in, spoke to the men working & asked if we could figure something out?  Both were extremely pleasant & helpful.  We decided that if we put our rigs right at the edge, we would be enough out of the way that they could get the job done & we could get in a ride!  

Grading, my truck & trailer~

 Farah handled the noise just fine, after a couple sideways looks.  She grazed while we watched the gate to be sure that Amanda didn't drive right by without realizing that we were there.  All was good!  She & Beth pulled up - we opened the gate & hurried to get saddled up & out of the way.  

Farah watching ~

 With the high clouds, it didn't get as warm as predicted, the woods were lush & cool.  We ran into several work crews spreading fresh cedar bark on trails already graded.  The Salmonberry are the largest & ripest I've seen in years - so it was a contest as to who did the best job of picking on the fly!  :-)  Farah got in trouble for kicking out - wish I could have seen her face, as my friends said her expression said it all.  Now she really knows what my stick is for!  Great Day, great first ride of Summer!

Farah gets out!

Trails vs. Roads~

Finally!  Farah gets the "OK" for a trail ride!  I hadn't had her out since the 24th of March - after which - her leg was worse.  It's dry enough now, that there were only a couple of times we had to turn back & take a slightly different path to stay out of water or mud.   Garmin Stats.

Farah's ears West

 The day got hot - at least well hot enough for me!  Up to probably 80 in the sun, but when the breeze came up off the water it helped.  I'd forgotten - again - how wonderful a good walk is!  We walked the entire loop, had a couple good climbs - & Farah let me know when she needed to take a short rest.  She's a tough girl & after a few breaths - started again without urging.  When she got excited - thinking Count was going to "leave" her.... I put her in front & boy did she walk-out!  Such a big, swinging stride!  A little disappointed when we reached the trailer parking & her trailer wasn't there, but she lead the rest of the way back!   Next time I'll use the running martingale, hopefully it will help with her excessive head tossing.  She does not like being rated - but otherwise could not have been better!  Now... fingers crossed that the leg doesn't "relapse"!

Toward Mt. Washington~

I decided to have my saddle shipped home from the Horse Saddle Shop.  After over a year without any bites, I think it's worth trying on Farah.  If it works, so much the better - at least for a while.  Linda reminded me that one of our Competitive Trail Judges used to say that it took;  "Three saddles from fat to fit."  Looking forward to getting it back & trying it out.

About Farah~

Farah enjoying pasture time at the GFTF

I haven't written anything about Farah for a long while now.  I've not been able to ride her either - so maybe that's why...  Dean has recommended no riding until the leg is completely covered with new hair - no bald patches, no scabs etc.  

At this point - all seems to be good news.  There are only four dime sized scabs left, all toward the top of the white sock.  The rest have fallen off & new hair is finally growing! There's no heat or swelling either - a welcome improvement.

Since rumor had it that my little "sweetheart" had become something of a witch with a "B"- & - we actually had enough dry weather that things outside weren't soaking wet - she has been allowed time in the pasture!   Polito is careful to lightly wrap the leg to keep it completely dry.  If she could talk - she would tell you how happy she is!

When I arrived today, her tail was up over her back & she was prancing & talking to the horses on the other side of the fence.  She saw me pull up & how nice to have her come over to say "Hi"!  She's such a "people" horse & I love it when she wraps her neck around me & gives me a big horsey "hug" :-)   She consumed the dandelions I pulled for her faster than I could pull them :-)

Winter's light gold coat has almost completely disappeared, with the dark golden brown taking over.  Soon, soon now - I might be back to re-conditioning my "retirement" ride!  :-)

Back between a set of gray ears :-)

Between Khari's ears~

Last season for whatever reason, I was pushing hard in the winter - conditioning.  Then - after Khari threw me, my transmission slipped into low.  I hadn't had a saddle on Khari since the 25th of October.  But, today - with the sunshine, "our" trails were calling my name.  I decided to just "go easy".  Make an attempt to re-bond with my mare & start with a fresh slate. 

So... I let her do what she wanted.  Her walk, which can be fast, but is most often slow - still was.  She lifted into a nice trot all on her own & it was NICE!  She asked to canter & we did that & it was FUN!  Once out on the power lines, out of the cold shade of the forest & into the warm sun, I let her graze & took in the rays.  The trip back was great too!  Another set of trot & canter.  She started snorting & looking when we were coming up the trail with the ecology blocks.  I took Dean's advice & just let her stop, look & snort.  Once that was over with - I gave her a pat & we moved on.  All very low key.  On the way back I stopped to cut down a lot of small Alders, that by Summer would have completely blocked our trail.  I cut - then went on to attack the blackberry.  Khari helped & at one point - she almost had me lassoed with a long piece she was determined to eat!

View of Mt. Pilchuck on our way home~

It's hard to believe that Khari has been with us for seven years now.  I really enjoyed the way this mare will go through, or take on any obstacle. (Something that I'm working on with Farah.)  My plan is to learn from my experience last year - no need to push - just take my time, follow the trail & enjoy the ride!