cowabunga (revisited)

I apologize for the title, but I couldn't help myself! We went riding with the steer again, this time on purpose! My friend C texted me if I wanted to go riding with the trail-riding steer. Sure! I wondered why she wanted to, as the last time we encountered the steer Major was curious and her horse Friday wanted to teleport into another zip code. But we're all up for a challenge.

handsome Jazzy, the Texas longhorn

The rider is local and gets her riding steer out on different occasions, letting locals know they can join her for desensitizing. A very interesting woman with a fun riding partner, Jazzy the Texas longhorn steer!

Should we have chosen the day with 50 mile-an-hour wind gusts? In hindsight, maybe not! We were riding at a local nature preserve, very small and flat, with wider trails and good sight lines. We had never been there before (because there is a total of three miles of trail, not much exploring to do!). Major did what is important at a new place with crazy wind: eat from his hay bag.

We tacked up then the steer arrived. We watched them tack up and walk about, Major was skeptically curious but not concerned. Friday was a bit more suspicious, and another friends horse was downright nonchalant!

heading out, an unusual view!

We headed out on the trail and Major was thinking it was another trail ride. Though he was annoyed that it was a bit slow and that he was not in charge. But that steer can move! It did a little trot/almost pace gait that Major could slow trot along behind. The horses switched out places, but I will say Major did not like to be followed by the steer, that was very suspicious so we circled around.

not sure about that guy up there (that we had just been following)

best option: put your friend between you and the steer

We practiced stopping in line, passing the steer, being passed, coming across the steer standing on the side of the trail (laying in wait as Major and Friday decided), the wind was gusting, we passed some llamas in their adjacent pasture, and Major had enough.

at a break on the trail

His brain was just too full. He was getting more and more up from the steer and the wind and the new place (our last ride had been 16 miles then he sat in the pasture for a week while I was busy, that certainly didn't help), and I decided I did not need to ride the horse I have for the first part of an endurance ride on a pleasure day. I wanted to end on a good note! So I got off and hiked along, following the steer. Major decided that was OK and he could handle that.

needing a bit of a mental break

We walked with them a bit, then I got back on, said thank you, and went off to give Major a little trot for good behavior. Friday and C came with us, they had enough as well. It was very fun and a great learning experience. I'm not too worried if we encounter them on trail, but I don't think Major will be herding cows anytime soon!

windblown Major dealing with his difficult life with his friend on the OTHER SIDE of the trailer