Hugo and I are taking our first trail ride!

[LMH]

Thanks to the kindness of the friend of a neighbor, Hugo and I get to take our first real trail ride!:D

We haul about 30 minutes and the farm is many acres that back up to MEGA many acres of protected land.

We can ride all day and get lost if we want!:lol:

I am really excited that Hugo will enjoy some kind of trail, limited distance riding and this is our first big step!

Wish us luck and fun!

[Raleigh's Mom]

Have a great time!!! Sounds like a great place to ride and so close!

The Georgia Endurance Riding Assoc. is having a 10-mile fun ride next Saturday (they are also having a limited distance and 50-mile endurance ride Fri & Sat). Might be a great way to get Hugo exposed to the fun of endurance riding!!!

http://aerc.org/Calendar/2009GERA.pdf

[pj]

Have a great time! Both of you drink lots of water...it's going to be hot.

[LMH]

what a day! I have waited years and horses for a day like today.

Hugo is da-bomb.

We went for about 1 1/2 hours-just one friend and us. Hugo was in front the entire way (well except when we came across "THE TIRES")

Crossed 4 (or 5?) creeks and a bridge (hand walked the bridge as there were no railings).

He just marched along thrilled with the whole experience.

I think I just found my perfect new trail boy.

NOW to drop some LBs off the man and limited distance here we come!!!
:D


I may never show again!!!!:lol:

[ChocoMare]

Hallulujah! I'm so proud of you both :yes:

Now for McIntosh!!!! :cool:

[lawndart]

Trail riding has seduced another hunter princess :winkgrin: Glad to hear Hugo was such a star. Watch out for ride five tho, in my experience, new to the trail horses are fascinated by it at first, then ride five or so (sometimes ride three) they realize Hey! This is Work! :eek:

I rode for hours yesterday on the trails in the State Forest from my back forty. I was smiling, thinking how lucky I am, and wondering how anyone who loves horses cannot love this. Of course, having the ultimate trail horse helps a lot with that feeling of 'all is right in my world'. :yes:

[FlashGordon]

Hooray for you LMH! Sounds like you and Hugo had a great time!

It is amazing how all the things you learn in the ring can translate to the trail. I get bored very easily in the ring and it is much more fun practice little skills out on the trail... where they often have a practical use.

Hope there are many more happy trails in your future!! :D

[pj]

Glad to hear that you BOTH had a great time. Sounds as if your boy is going to be one of the ones who loves the trail and to see what's around the next bend. It's so much nicer when both you and the horse love what you do.
Be sure and not get him in the habit of always leading. Once started that habit can be hard to break so when with others switch around, front, back and middle. A horse who HAS to lead or NEVER wants to lead is a pia.
Wishing you many years of joyful trails!

[matryoshka]

Sounds like an addiction is starting. Once I discovered competitive trail, I lost all interest in showing. This was back in the 80's. But I didn't have a horse suitable for distance competition, so I stuck to trail riding for pleasure. All other equine pursuits paled by comparison.

Now I think I'm allergic to arenas and 20m circles. :D

[LMH]

I am still grinning from the fun!

We are going again on Saturday-and indeed this time we will practice with him being the #2 man:)

Thanks for the tip on ride 3-5! I may not have seen that one coming.

This farm is AMAZING for conditioning-AMAZING.

I am finally going to give this a shot! I have been waiting for this day and am so so excited!

Granted Hugo is not the perfect breed for distance-he is a little stocky. I am hoping he leans down (well he will no doubt).

I am sure we can manage 25 milers-we will just have to play smart when we get in close to vet check to make sure he does not lose tons of time with his HR.

In the meantime this is great fun for both of us.

So PLEASE GA peeps-put us on the trail list! We wanna come play in the woods!

[Raleigh's Mom]

I met a very nice lady on a stocky Paint right before the start of my first 25-miler (my Arab was being nuts and I think she took pity on me). I ended up doing the entire ride with her (she even helped me through the vets checks). We trotted almost the entire 25 miles -- she rode with a heart monitor, walked it into the vet checks, and her horse had no problems pulsing down. She knew her horse very well and knew what he could handle. We started about 5 minutes after the pack (because of my crazy horse) and we finished around 53rd place out of 75 starters. That seemed pretty respectable for a stocky horse to me. I am forever grateful to her and her calm Paint horse -- I would have never made it through my first 25 if it were not for the kindness of a stranger! :)

I will be at Dawson Forest this Saturday volunteering for the GERA ride, but maybe we can meet up there soon! I have a couple of ladies that I do conditioning rides with on the south side of Atlanta, but I need to get out to some different places. :)

[LMH]

Cool story Raleigh!

Maybe Hugo will be the resident Arab sitter one day!

I certainly have no delusions of winning Tevis BUT I would love to see JUST how fit we can get.

Just a personal challenge for both of us!

I would LOVE to meet up and ride!

His booties arrived today so we are GTG (good to go)-much needed for Dawson.

Now I just need a reasonable do-able conditioning program.

Of course I will model it after my own personal favorite-P90X :D

[ChocoMare]

Now I think I'm allergic to arenas and 20m circles. :D

:lol: :lol: :lol: They're against my religion too. :winkgrin: