The Trail, The Fall, and The Verdict

Zephyr and I did ~22 miles today, out-and-back on a trail that goes from our backyard to the General Store in the next town over.  The Exeter General Store is very very old... dates from back when there were only two places for anyone in Exeter/Corinth to shop. You could buy your groceries, fabric for clothes, and supplies to build a house all in one place. Note the tie rings and bucket ring along the rail at the bottom right corner. Still a favorite stop today for horseback riders!

We'd ridden the first half of the trail last week, and the second half yesterday.  Today we put the two halves together.

This photo makes the sky look a lot more dramatic than it was.  Today's weather was perfect for riding.  70s, and blue skies except for right between us and the sun.  Most of the time we were riding in cloud-shade.  Very very nice.

The best thing about this trail is that it only contains 1000' of paved road!  We leave from our backyard and ride a couple miles through the woods, first on our own private trails and then on the historic road that used to carry horses and wagons across town.  There's a nice stream crossing.

At the other end of the woods road we come to a paved road, which we follow for 300' before hitting an ATV trail network.  This trail consists of potato and corn fields connected by short lengths of woods trails.

There are a couple of bridges that aren't passable by horses, but there are easy go-rounds.  This one takes you right through a lovely little stream.

There's a second section of paved road, about 700' this time, but the shoulders are wide, sandy, and level, and the traffic isn't bad.

The trail beyond this blockage is another bridge go-round for horses.  This particular bridge is VERY scary looking and I was thrilled to find the alternate trail. 

The bridge... I told you it was scary!!!!!

 Awww.... how nice!

These potato fields are ready to harvest.  Nice view too!

There are a TON of corn fields along this trail, and if you pay attention the views are great!

This bridge is actually horse safe.  There are 3-4 supports underneath, and the center planks are plenty wide enough for a horse to walk on.

 
Then there's a section where you can either ride dirt road if you want to move out a little, or you can wind around the edge of the field next to it on the trail.  Don't know if you can see him but I snapped a picture of a fox as he crossed the road ahead of us.

We were riding through a potato field when we came to a corner where, yesterday, there had been a pile of logs and a pickup truck on the other side of the corner.  We were trotting along nicely when he started to slow to a walk because he remembered that yesterday there had been something scary around the corner.  I urged him back into a trot.

Unfortunately, when we came around the corner, there was a DIFFERENT something-scary.

He spooked sideways away from it, and VERY unfortunately the trail on that corner was worn down, leaving a rutted edge that caught his feet.  Over he went onto his left side, and off I came.  I rolled clear, and both of us got up right away.  Both of us were dirty but there were no obvious injuries to either of us.  I walked him on foot for quite a ways, then got on and walked a while longer.  Finally trotted ... he was fine.  If he hadn't been, I was prepared to walk him all the way home along pavement, as we were essentially right around the corner from home (and only 5mi by pavement).  It was 10 miles home by trail.  I had one other opportunity to decide to walk him home by pavement, at the 5mi mark... but he was still fine so we continued on trail.

About 3 miles from home, I just decided to let him walk unless he offered to do more.  He didn't offer.  I know I was getting stiff from the fall so maybe he was too.

After the Northeast Challenge 30, I had thought I might take Zephyr to the Maynesboro Stud 50 on next Saturday September 15.  But today I decided not to.  I could take him and he might be fine.  But he might not.  Even before we fell he wasn't acting like a horse who wanted to go run 50 miles in the mountains of New Hampshire.  The final decision came when I asked myself... if this wasn't a one-time-only ride, would I even consider taking him?

The answer is no, I don't feel in my heart that either of us is ready for a 50 right now.

Maybe next year, IF I'm able to start fitting him up in the early spring (or better yet, ride all winter to keep him fit).

Or, maybe not.  He's 16 this year and we've been out of distance riding for 3 years.  I'm at a time and place in my life when I want to be home more than I ever have before.  I honestly think that I could be OK with him never doing another 50- or 100-mile ride.  He's got nothing left to prove to me, or even to the world.  He's an amazing, once-in a lifetime horse, and his health is way more important than any event that I might ever take him to.  If we go to some distance rides now and then, great.  If not, we can keep doing mounted search and rescue, parades, pleasure rides, a show now and then, and maybe even try a little team penning just for fun.

We'll just have to wait and see.

I’m Still Alive

Some of you have written to ask where I’ve been, and if Zephyr and I are ok.  We are, but we are going through a rough patch this year.  I’m in the middle of a divorce, and there are some complications that have made life extremely stressful. 

Zephyr has pretty much been hanging out in the field since my last post… sometimes with various neighbors’ horses for company, and sometimes alone.  He probably wishes I would come spend time with him, but I just can’t.  I’ve lost my riding mojo, for one, and I also can’t stand to be home much. 

I’m not sure what I will do with him this winter… if anyone knows a REALLY responsible and REALLY experienced horse owner in the Bangor area who might like a free lease, please let me know.  I don’t know whether that’s the route I’ll take or not, but it might be a possibility if I found the right person.  He can and should be ridden all winter, and of course there would be no farrier expenses as he is barefoot and I would continue to trim his feet.

Enough of that.  Let’s see some pretty pictures.  :-)

July 2009:

After one of our very rare rides this summer (July 2010):

OH, I did go for a nice long ride in April 2010, over in Dixmont, with my friend Melissa (a fellow MMESAR (Mid-Maine Equestrian Search and Rescue) member).  Here are the pictures from that:

Rocky road, and happy bare feet!

 

This is what you see a lot of in Dixmont, Maine.  Though I believe we actually rode in 2-3 towns by the time we were done.  I think she was getting me back for the ride I took her on at my house!

 

We stopped at the convenience store a mile or two from Melissa’s house, and I went inside for snacks.  Zephyr stood like a ROCK for her, and didn’t even move when I came back and fed treats first to Peek-a-Boo and then to him.

Peek moved, not him… note that his feet are still in the same place:

That tongue is just a-goin… “Hey Mom, bring ME those snacks!!”

But he still just stood there, didn’t come mug me for them.

On the way home from the store, we had to race a storm.

I like the shadow in this picture:

 

This isn’t Zephyr.  This is the moose we saw on our way back from a MMESAR training session in somewhat-northern Maine.

This was taken in early March 2010, in Zephyr’s paddock at home.

This was taken in March 2009 but I love it so I’m posting it again.

Check out this over-stride at the trot!!

This is Zephyr and the Peek-A-Bus sharing Peek’s trailer on the way to the beach in April 2010.  Their noses were even; their butts were not.  (Look at the floor, not the butts.)  Many laughs were shared over this one.  Now that I see this picture, I remember that I have a TON of other pictures from this trip, so I’ll post them as their own entry.

Can you find the poneh?

Here’s the poneh:

More awesome laying-down shots, from the field down the road this time:

“I’m not worried.  The black horses are standing watch.”

Shortly before twilight, on a different day after the cows moved home.  I was able to walk right up to him and cuddle for a while… I sure do love that……

He has a small grass paddock at home.  It’s fairly narrow and goes back to the tree-line in the background.

Anyone want a Myler Combo Bit?  Low-port mouthpiece, rawhide nose, biothane chin strap, 3-ring shank.  Retails new for $130, used 3x.  I’d like to get $100, but make me an offer!!

A rare late-May ride:

The new EZ-Fit Saddle and Thinline saddle pad left PERFECT sweat marks!

One heck of a shiny boy, on vacation at Melissa’s house while I house-sat in June 2010.

Running in October 2010, at the field down the road:

Bouncing back to June 2009, here he is in the field down the road from home.  I love the rays of sunshine in the camera lens.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now.  Just know that I’m doing ok, and so is Zephyr.  We’d love it if y’all would write from time to time… I’ll read your notes to him.  ;-)