finally

The sun came out, and so did everyone else. But I did have the trails blissfully to myself for the first part of the day…

Major eagerly stepped off the trailer, and needed to be forcibly removed from some parking lot grass. He was starving you know! But he was happy with his crack alfalfa hay bag instead, and we quickly tacked up and left the staging area, trails to ourselves.

in front of us: the dam we climbed last time!

We saw a few runners (hey, that horse is wearing Crocs!), but otherwise the trail was clear. We did manage to be the first to break the spider webs strung across the trail (with my face), but the wooden bridge at the waterfall was empty, and it was clear sailing (trotting?). Down to the bridge, and now for up the other side, had any of the last rides improved his fitness?

waterfall + bridge + no people = awesome

only two tiny people on No Hands

Up and up, Major wanted to trot, so we did for quite a while. He isn't as out of shape as I thought! But he did tire out, so I did some hiking too. This ride was lots of elevation and pretty good distance, I wasn't worried about how long it took.

lovely creekside trail

snack break

Fun snack breaks and quick trotting along the creek, but then we found rocks. And mud. And more rocks. I hate this part of the trail, and usually avoid it, but took a wrong turn somewhere! Hikers were coming up the hill, we were going down, and no one seemed to be having much fun. But it was. We were out on a beautiful day after what felt like months of being cooped-up. I'll take it.

Major questioning his life choices

there was some mud…

and a pond to wash off the mud!

A lovely pond distracted us, then a good red dirt hill. But we're still on the other side of the river. Down we headed, when we were passed by a few riders. Major practiced a bit of prancing being obnoxious just being a jerk. Good practice for endurance rides, so I held him back and circled, and we walked a bit more calmly. Until the next group. Repeat. It was great actually, an opportunity to practice correct bad behavior.

red dirt hill

Major paying attention to the fisherman on the other side

But he was also awesome. A tight squeeze when six other riders coming up wanted to get by, he sidepassed over to the very edge of the trail, and stood, not moving, while everyone passed by. Yeah, trail skills!

stunning water

Back across the bridge, I was glad there weren't too many people on the bridge. But in the next three miles I passed more than 60 people. I think every idiot oblivious human was on the trail. Dogs off leash, tiny chihuahua on a short rope who escaped from his owner and almost got trampled. Strollers, (on a single-track trail). And my favorite: three chihuahuas being carried by a man, while his wife carried a huge, soft-sided pet carrier for them (what is is with Chihuahua owners?).

we're being shadowed

The bridge at the creek was covered in feral children and people taking photos. At this point I was take-no-prisoners "You need to get off the bridge so I don't smash someone against the railing." They moved quickly, and I thanked them very much, and kept going. Some days are for slowing and letting folks pet your pretty horsie. And some days are not.

arriving back (thanks SO for the photo!)

dirty, happy pony

After the ride Major was happy to roll in the only dirt patch in the whole staging area. I was happy just to sit in the sun and watch my once clean, now dirty horse, be happy in the green grass. Spring is almost here, this year more sweet than ever. Finally.