Invited to Ride~

Michael, Samantha & Ruth

Cassandra & I had been attempting to meet for a couple weeks.  I've been on restriction - since my eye surgery & with these sunshine days - I wanted nothing more than to ride.  (One day early?  Has to be OK!)  Cassandra was coming this way to meet & trail ride with two young clients.  After checking with them, I was invited along!  I was driving up 59th slowly - looking for the driveway to the farm where we planned to meet - when I saw someone riding along the side of the road.   Introducing ourselves - Ruth said;  "You must be one of the people I'm riding with today!"

Ruth & her Arab ~

Sure enough - we were both heading to the same place!  Michael welcomed us & directed me to a spot to park that would be out of the way.  With a background in Rodeo - he explained that there would be big rigs coming & going all day.  Soon, Samantha pulled in - she boards her off-the-track Thoroughbred at the farm.

Trying a different saddle pad~

Shortly after - Cassandra arrived, making the drive down from Anderson Arena/Snowy Mountain Stables near Mt. Vernon.  Her ride today was a beautiful half Arab, half Friesian.  She also brought a SaddleRight saddle pad for me to try.  My Woolback is just too thick under the Stonewall & Jackie recommends a thin pad.  This one has good reviews, is made in the USA & only 1/2" thick.  It was nice to mount up without the saddle slipping.

Farah makes friends~

I am sorry to admit that I don't remember the horses names - but as you can see - Farah was totally enamored of Cassandra's gelding.  While the two girls galloped away - Cassandra & I took it a bit easier, her boy was barefoot & Farah had started the ride galloping in place.

Ruth, Cassandra & Samantha - adjusting her saddle~

I was amazed that Farah was willing to stay with her new friend & watch the other two horses take off!  We all really had a fun time - the girls would double back to check on us & we got a chance to swap stories :-)

Whitehorse - Three Fingers~

Farah kept me too busy to take many photos.  She gets out so seldom with others - especially a group going fast!  It was almost funny to see how surprised she was.  The day was plenty warm enough for me - the horses all worked up a good sweat in no time.  As I told Cassandra, nothing like seeing the gold girl in action to get an idea of what areas we need to work on :-)

Farah watching as we get our photo taken :-)

We had several interesting moments - it was fun watching how an experienced horsewoman & retired jockey deals with a horse that wants to take off.  I'm sure that if he'd had shoes, we'd have given the girls a run for their money :-)

Our ride route~

It's a small world - Cassandra had purchased a horse from Charles - we ended the day with a tour of Dean's farm.  Swapping more stories & admiring the most beautiful horse farm in the state.  Going our separate ways - now friends & planning more riding!

Making New Friends~

From a chilly early a.m. - the sun burned through the clouds & the day warmed into the mid-60's!  Farah & I were on the road early, to meet Linda & Elizabeth.  Linda planned to ride Elizabeth's very nice buckskin gelding.  I was the first one to the parking area - we attracted the attention of three people walking their dog.  Introducing themselves, the two ladies - from Taiwan - had never seen a horse in person, or touched one :-)

Farah & her new friends~

 It's always so much fun to introduce strangers to the Equine species :-)  We discussed size, vs. a dog - strength etc.  They both held their hands flat to give Farah some of her peppermint treats & giggled like kids when her lips touched their hands :-)

Trailers & horses~

 Soon, Linda pulled in with Count & shortly after Elizabeth with Tony.  Trying different tack & saddles took a bit, but we got it done!  The morning was just so beautiful - we weren't in any hurry.

Tony ~

 Tony is such an easy going boy - for as young as he is.  Elizabeth owned his dam & looked at several Quarter Horse Stallions before picking Tony's sire.  His training is really solid, his personality is friendly & you can tell he's always been treated as a member of the family.

Tony & Linda

 Linda was all smiles, as we left the trail-head.  Our plan was to do the loop around the mountain & take Elizabeth to the Monument.  With Farah in the lead, Tony was happy to follow her silver tail.  When I moved her to the rear, he looked over at us, but with a little urging took the lead.

The peaks were stunning against the clear blue sky~

  Tony has been on trails, gone horse camping, a been there, done that kind of horse.  What he hadn't done for a while, was much work.  He was willing, but more than happy when we would stop for short breaks.  Count was good for Elizabeth - she was enjoying the ride.  We all know how much fun it is to see our own horse with someone else in the saddle.

Linda, Tony - Elizabeth & Count

 Count did give Elizabeth one of his trademark dirty looks & she got a real kick out of it :-) I - on the other hand, am one of Count's best friends.  Tony figured out why - when he got cookies too.  Farah was having a rare, calm day - I enjoyed it. 

Farah~

Usually when in cycle, she'll go slow - hoping Count will get close...   This day, she set a beautiful pace, walking out well over 4.- up to 5.1.  If we got too far ahead, she'd slow or we'd stop to wait for our companions.

Linda on Tony

 Tony showed that he has that Arab toughness.  His hind shoes had been pulled two-weeks ago, so he was tender on the rock roads.  Linda put him into a good trot going up fast trail & he hung in there - even when we all knew he was tiring.  Not a wrong move, no spooking & a good attitude.   I put Farah behind both horses, she didn't like it, but didn't argue.

Mt. Rainier, under clouds~

Both Linda & I enjoyed Elizabeth's company, I hope she enjoyed the ride as much as we did.  When we returned to the trail-head, it was full of trailers!  Not the only riders out taking advantage of such a amazing Sat. after weeks of rain!

New trail at Victoria~

Blazing sunshine at home this morning, as I traveled north - the sky filled with low hanging gray, almost fog like clouds.  In Arlington, it was thick enough to block most of the sun.  By the time I was past 530, the air had cleared & the sun returned.  Yet another in a long string of sunshine days - our norm for over a year now...

Fresh grass

We left from Linda's today-  I wanted to see the new trail that the bikes have put in & changes they'd made to another trail.  Taking the long way around, we ran into a couple hiking with their dog.  Stopping to chat - they are from the Auburn, CA area & planning to relocated to Camano Is.   Smart to scope out the local riding areas & they had already visited Fire Mountain!

The thin haze covered the Sound~

Once up on top, you could plainly see the haze had filtered the earlier bright sunshine.  It was one of those kick-back days - we enjoyed a couple fast trots on the trails & soon Linda directed us to the new one.

Blocked Trail~

On the Magic Forest Trail, the corner that has been there forever, was blocked with limbs, rocks etc.  The bike riders had re-routed it to the other side of the big Cedar that's on the left.  We don't know why- nothing wrong with the corner.

Dry views~

First time in my memory that I've seen this view of Whitehorse & Three Fingers with their glaciers melted down so low...  You can see the haze in the air here too.

New Signage too~

We turned onto the new trail, soon coming to this new sign.  The trail took a turn here & horses are directed around a downhill section.  We're not sure why - but it works for us.

Linda & Count going through the middle of an old stump!

The trail was well laid out - but very soft in many places.  If enough horses go over it - it will be compacted faster than just the bikes would be able to do.

Another sign~

As we came off the by-pass, there was another sign at the bottom with a vine maple bent over to mark the spot.

Old road~

The trail dropped us down onto this old logging road that was once a trail.  Linda said it wouldn't take much to get it re-opened.  The bikes plan to start another section of trail off this road eventually.

Toward the west side~

Heading back toward Linda's on the trail I hadn't ridden since the hill was clear-cut, the change in the view was apparent!  From forest, bright sunshine over the new clear-cut area.  Linda has finally made a path through the worst of the left-over logging debris, it allowed us to complete our loop.

Wood cutters~

  As we came off the top & onto the road, there were wood cutters working away to load up the left-overs.  They were nice enough to shut down the equipment & we stopped to chat.  We spent as much time chatting today as we did riding :-)  Almost!

Our route~

All the zig/zags to the far right - is the new trail, it cuts right down the hillside & it is really pretty.  Very nice to have new trail, it's in an area that shouldn't be too hard to maintain.  Most of the trails are again open & if this weather holds, we can hope to have access to the trail system for a few extra weeks this season.  Fingers crossed!

New Friends~

The story is a long one, the friendship is too - I referred Joyce to this particular friend & we were both introduced to Robin.  Wouldn't you know?  Robin grew up on horseback - then as with so many of us, life got in the way.  Funny how things sometimes go full circle!

Robin sets up to ride Jesse!  With Joyce's help.

 Joyce offered to take Robin out on a ride & of course I had to tag along!  Robin was very honest with us about her horse experience - her father was in the military & Polo was his sport!  Her parents first date?  Out for a ride!  As a fearless kid, she'd ridden all day - jumped anything in sight & spent all her time in the saddle.  Now, it had been fifteen years...

Joyce & Robin admire the view

Not many women would have the nerve to get on their first Arabian (a top-ten endurance horse) & head out for a ten-mile ride!   Jesse was well behaved, besides thinking that the pace could have been a little a bit faster :-)

At the Monument

Robin did a wonderful job - not grabbing rein or making any "newbie" mistakes!  As usual the three horses moved right out at the walk - cruising along at 4-mph. on a beautiful cool day could not have been nicer.

Target & Joyce

With the supracore pad gone & the sheepskin back on, I was comfortable again!  Farah too, was much happier with just the Woolback!  No inserts!  I'd also changed the saddle pack to one that holds two water bottles.  When I left my camera back at the Monument - (Figured this out when I wanted a photo at the Lake McMurrary outlook.) I turned Farah back to go get it.  We hit a trot - then a gallop - then the bucks started coming!  I reached back & with nothing behind the cantle - the pack was still coming in contact with her loin.  That came off once we were home & we'll go back - to what works!

Stinging Nettle Bloom with the ever evasive Blackberry!

It's always so much fun to show someone new your "backyard".  Even though the peaks were under the clouds, Robin really enjoy her ride & we enjoyed having her with us!