It's amazing how life goes sometimes. It's why sometimes planning does me no good whatsoever.
Plan A: Ride with Anisha (friend from the stables who is always looking for a ride, just like me) to Bandera.
Plan A/2: Invite a couple from the stables to go too.
Complication A: Anisha has and unexpected dismount and her participation is iffy.
Solution A: Husband agrees to take her place.
Complication A2: Cibolo is injured (minor, but still concerning) and loses a shoe.
Solution A2: Farrier makes quick stop and puts two shoes on, just in case.
Complication A3: Friday we learn Lily has thrown a shoe. It's too late to get farrier out.
Which leads to:
PLAN B: Husband and I will bail on the couple for a shorter ride at the Lake.
Complication B: Husband wakes up at 2 am, tossing his cookies.
Which leads to :
PLAN C: Rudy had invited us over for a trail ride. His kids are over for the weekend, our children are excited. We call this morning and confirm at 10 am that we'll be over about noon.
Complication C: Youngest tosses her cookies at 10:15. Eldest is also not feeling well. Text Rudy.
Which leads to:
Modified Plan C: Me and Cibolo ride with Rudy, no kiddos...
Yesh. Good thing I wasn't trying to plan a meeting at the UN or something. They'd all have been meeting in the parking lot.
That said, it WAS a great training ride for our upcoming long trail ride in the Valley (a 12 miler). We did 7 + miles in about 3 hours, the second 3.5 miles almost at a constant trot, thank to Rudy's fast moving Paso Fino.
My posting, needless to say, is much improved as are my stomach muscles. I hope I will be able to sit up tomorrow.
This was also the first real training ride with Cibolo. At first he was a bundle of nerves. Dancing around, concerned about being in a new place. But soon we had our rhythm working. I had no idea how he'd react to anything - dogs, traffic, horses calling at the other side of fences, bridges and a fast moving Paso. The last time I'd been on that trail, it had been with Canyon. I'd lost lots of confidence and for me Cibolo is so new, I was worried about what could happen.
Cibolo was remarkable. We were charged by dogs, vehicles came up on both sides, there were roofers working on houses, Rudy pushed the pace and at one point I had to hold Cibolo down to a fast trot and not lope - because I'm still nervous about it.
In time, in time. (We did do one or two lopes, not long or anything. But I wasn't quite there. Getting closer, I think).
Cibolo was wonderful. He spooked in place for the charging dog, but other than that he was largely unfazed.
Last time I was on that trail, my horse bolted.
This time, my horse listened and looked to me for guidance; although he did want to stay up with the Paso, we had no arguments. Other than a reluctance to side pass to the keypad to open the gate, he was incredible. In fact on the first 4 miles, he didn't even break a sweat.
I have a TRAIL SAFE HORSE!
:)
