I was crabby. A 4:30 a.m. start to a super long annoying day at work that had led to me not getting off in time to ride. I wasn't in the mood to ride after dark in the forest. I didn't want to saddle up. I didn't want to hop on bareback. I wasn't in the mood to deal with any naughty behavior. But I also didn't feel like sitting around. In short, I admit, I was having a bit of a tantrum. Hey, it happens to us all sometimes (I hope!).
So I took a hike. Literally.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuaOxWvrtuC6Pz9KrAvBG08_513Wl1-ONwmo5RPV50Us_6HHUpQqSnOU-gJ0ZsECmvYlDZdrafrL2DkcFWxxk1mxO8ESZgYXktFwEe6P5DL6JBiuT0T4BvoE_mdQsfTuaCcR2fELr9xbi/s1600/skeptical-walk.jpg) |
skeptical horse is reluctant |
Major was a bit skeptical heading out on our hike. But he likes my recent plan: learn to walk and chew gum.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaogrm8Xk2KxdDcl9PluQGqrKv8IVJ7F_kLLm97y1jV3KmnzwSBo0Ikrshl74sYw8Y4ktPgUWJKHgwmu5SkCtbpmfvifM-pM5IsX9sAue-e4J5nKpf-qGHgAeHPWHy9ccs6rdVtJJiRei/s1600/horse-view-above.jpg) |
why are you up on that trail, just get on! |
He will not grab a bite of grass while his feet are moving. I've never reprimanded him for trying, he doesn't even try. Stop moving, and he'll gobble it up. Every horse I have ever ridden will snatch grass when given the chance. Major is special. And annoying! My new strategy is to walk, slow way down, let him get a good taste, and I keep walking. When I get to the end of the lead rope I give a tug and a click, he comes trotting up to me, repeat.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhTNvdRLiFvjPzZlBEwupkM59-BdiI7CQ48K8CjbrQ3zzJJBDslmfEHlGwLTlmhtobq96KGnqpdKSiy7DVdb_pW6C9cCVp8y7yEkOekDulvbxVfUyT0BdF3icB3hDBrUIekVdAoPz07x-X/s1600/lake-view-climb.jpg) |
hiking view: worth it |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjjq_aovL0CKARA9Qg0MMfuGunb6PYmnzIN3wnfQVx7GlKSoZUr3gmMHrWhm5JHtF-_mhgKbtN5Qm7ZiEQHii1nQfE5Ef-5gAD0oytrhGqY4BWut2d4WXrWt9QdBdMz48TDXCK6cWaUrR/s1600/golden-sunset-horse.jpg) |
Golden sunset. Maybe it's not so bad out here, we should go back |
He's getting better, but Major still can't walk and chew gum. But the green grass is overwhelming. And once I was out there, a mile into the forest, with my horse slightly ridiculously stopping and trotting to catch up, I felt much better. A stop with a lovely view sealed the deal. And back home I let him gobble the tall grass for awhile, and then snack outside his pasture (because the grass tastes better out there).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJG8ymfkceHJDH7ywcOZwqga2A9I31hM4oW0CpHDvn1yoOpQFjRE7KXmJSn6dHDQY7seo0R1cvFi1MWk2hasGwn26wLjmpPPMixoQbkxlqLiBq7BUVg_4RMccgKQbTSKEAr6sNGC2EK85H/s1600/just-grass.jpg) |
I can't hear you, my mouth is too full |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-zFProDR1l2xZBpJt1rRjc0X7M9UIdVdVc-N2gBZl0BCs0QvcF06Kqt7MCVCcaDlAvfODZ52OZqYL3aDPdcLuRT7YEEnOAaNSmyU8Vvyl1GjKGLDM8VpQISfW8fCg2jnpfb3CxdlSCrq/s1600/sunset-graze.jpg) |
sunset snack |
Major and our hike got me out of my funk, though I was disappointed that I'd be away during the weekend. With a (hopeful) endurance ride coming up in two months, I was worried about continuing conditioning. Then I read the great "
Check your privilege" blog, and I realized missing a weekend of riding to visit my grandmother was an important "excuse."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwajpZBkmllNy-79sVycmxrOe0VTzFO5N5Waul14uTBWYT4kFCfRFtFXtgRUX3HTKp-U1wofRb7VpwjfylkQ3nP64tKyFf5rg3xV_vZyz8jz63bNAedoYgVeRemPOJe__ocri6-dXo5zsj/s1600/green+meadow-tree.jpg) |
the drive was beautiful |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPzUKIdWitVBFo2zw_7RcPE451ggOmlImBe74BabTHWbX2r6v1MnKJVqwi1ABW9-si6IoIYFUwJ5vXZfZ41gffQILYkKIqahV-g3MQzBq6kg-yx_CkIXsbLiIUxE-FvY0vSIgeWqMC5PU/s1600/goat-hill.jpg) |
goat hill! at the old dairy |
I visited Grandma, and had a great time, went for some lovely walks "back home" and just decided to enjoy the time I had where I was, even if it wasn't conditioning the horse.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaSdAmQaCa_PIZshxHNngSWmmG2GVjhqtj_BUvM64PbX8K-xOS4zyNxrG4fk3Xslo_4F_Rcg1pY11vJl1MOb7Hg03jJf88zOXNnU__3RvFp8o6ZNiNyGr2h1Uains0SIVDLKcOhpVPnJ4/s1600/spring-lake.jpg) |
The small lake that felt so huge when I was a kid |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfw22svhirnscg2-gypRPAEoYnrmMDwTTer1rk1dWZStimcn0HqLbfExfvdhrrl4LrTxDRoGU0QM_qOzA24YOzv-9kcYf8i7dNna5xZFOVAnczt0H5jT6ENGB1LSSCov5F_937T-YXtAS/s1600/carousel-howarth.jpg) |
the carousel at the park where I always wanted to ride the jumping one |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LLog3iIh58DClO1jACDyTllb5IB45nxsAmeTn2EqWxxk0AaE2pgKNRYk1Xwm_u1H3w_NROOd5ZCcPtmu4qPocpbPAjQfr92PfRibrxmMK7ojLJE8smWJDXk2V9lWx6dV5Q0hfvgs-ywK/s1600/geese-lake.jpg) |
curious geese |
Because there will be rides, and hikes, there will be horses and there will be more views. But there aren't more grandmas.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifR5vXWVuPW-rHfJrB9R4BSmDHq7b0T67T0s8uyMIfqT4yKj9eNvzZwj6jVBFknUir5afRmQ8mScsHpYM4L6VQMSkHifnwx34SETSlBLFodJAXprB5OJG6RUH0pWdPiXWyVPwgm9AFL5vM/s1600/mustard-view.jpg) |
fields of mustard |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1299iWyXePn8aM6wHPpeixG6zEgDnp11cH8EX_7FTWY4s04esC05Ek4fZ7NPsU4VmUv6QgaLyb70-4p2xDgU-jDD4jl08-Q3luTbbHRBQW_62RcdDDLgodc2tzreFqT6Zs7bdPw4hR2OV/s1600/spring-lake-walk.jpg) |
the trail less traveled |
I hear you, I've been doing things like that lately in the time I could be getting miles.. just hiking, or grooming horses, or nitpicking at their hoof trims. I enjoy their presence, I'm sightly demoralized on endurance, but when with them, and if I'm well exercised myself, it's all good.
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