Archie

Baby Miles.

Like just about everyone else, I rely on lights in order to ride after work during the week.  Given the amazing days off work lately (thanks, municipality), I've been able to ride more when the sun is actually out.  This means hitting the trails.

This is actually the scariest part, because the neighbors shoot guns on the left.
Unlike everyone else, this El Nino crap has meant that when I'm riding, it's like 80°+.  I know you snow-bound and flooded people think that sounds marvelous, but our damn hairy horses are sweating.  And the bugs.  Roar.

Before petty things like selfies with horse butt were sacrificed to devote hands to swatting insects.
It's also been a little wet around, so one day I took Archie on a different part of the dirt road.  To make it the slightest bit exciting, we cut across a field and looped back to the dirt road.  This required my old man to walk through four dry ditches (mostly, at least).  Just as I was marveling that he seemed to understand the necessity of taking it easy on himself and not jumping, he did a little airs above ground to celebrate crossing the fourth ditch.

I think that's fourth ditch that he's staring at? Fourth ditch is obviously the best ditch.
What's that?

What's that?
A couple weeks ago, another boarder and I walked in the woods together.  Her horse was content to follow and Archie was determined to lead (as is the natural order in their pasture together) and my old man bravely marched the entire way, only losing his shit at a recently cleared field and a new tractor.
Stealth tractor is obviously horrifying.
So when that same boarder asked if we wanted to hit the trail across the street, I said sure.  I had a little tightening in my gut, but I need to relish every opportunity.  Archie led again (even across the scary road, over the new gravel and around two gates he's never really seen before) and he let us both know that her gelding was not to get in front and also, could she stop with the crop, thanks.  He did those same airs above ground a couple times and got popped with his own crop for the antics.  Pony feels good.  The only issue we had was when he wanted to speed home and threw another tempter tantrum.


Bugs.
Ignore the protruding hip/butt.
And then we went back out yesterday, just to the river, where I reminded him that frisky ponies busted their asses in mud.  And played with the camera sync on my Apple Watch.

This is my belt.  In case you ever wondered what the vantage point was like for a Joey.

What's that?


That long trail on the left dead ends a mile down, but it looks like we can cut a trail to the right and end up in some fields.  Things to try! 

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    14 comments

    1. Calm, Forward, StraightDecember 28, 2015 at 5:46 PM

      Glad you and Archie are getting out and about. :D

      I feel ya on the weather. Wooly ponies are sweaty, sweaty ponies are itchy, and sweaty itchy ponies are super annoyed by flies and mosquitoes. Val got a mini-bath on Xmas day.

      ReplyDelete
    2. AoifeDecember 28, 2015 at 6:15 PM

      Yay for daylight strolls & good ponying even if there were a few airs tossed in for good measure.

      ReplyDelete
    3. The $900 fb ponyDecember 28, 2015 at 6:53 PM

      So jealous of your trails

      ReplyDelete
    4. Alli + DinoDecember 28, 2015 at 7:15 PM

      So happy you've been able to get out with the Archie man!

      ReplyDelete
    5. HillaryDecember 28, 2015 at 10:18 PM

      Feisty old man archer! One day the stars will align and we'll go on a trail ride together :)

      ReplyDelete
    6. HolyBullyDecember 29, 2015 at 12:26 AM

      His sass makes me laugh. If I got plopped in 80 degree weather right now I would probably melt into a puddle.

      ReplyDelete
    7. julesatthebarnDecember 29, 2015 at 6:15 AM

      Hell yeah Beka!! Glad you're getting saddle time. I found a few of my trails by observing Google maps too. Went to Lowe's and got some snips that can cut 1 1/2 inch branches, cleaned the trails up and connected a few. We are good to go.

      ReplyDelete
    8. AnonymousDecember 29, 2015 at 9:01 AM

      The heat doesn't sound like a lot of fun! Its been in the 60s here until just this week with lots of rain. Looks like some fun trail riding!

      ReplyDelete
    9. MSherfeseeDecember 29, 2015 at 10:10 AM

      So happy to see you out and about with the old man. I believe the bugs will carry us away next year if we don't get some cold soon. Violet doesn't even grow much coat and has already been clipped twice this year.

      ReplyDelete
    10. MicaylahDecember 29, 2015 at 11:11 AM

      I couldn't handle bugs right now

      ReplyDelete
    11. UnknownDecember 29, 2015 at 11:17 AM

      Can't complain too much about trail rides in late December! Although the heat is tough on the hairy yaks

      ReplyDelete
    12. KateRoseDecember 29, 2015 at 9:42 PM

      Your trails are beautiful!!

      ReplyDelete
    13. T. A. Eyo ¥January 1, 2016 at 7:07 PM

      Sweating I could work around. The bugs, eh, not so much. Honestly, seeing a fly after October is a pet peeve.

      ReplyDelete
    14. emmaJanuary 5, 2016 at 9:49 AM

      i love the pics! also your trails look like a lot of fun!

      ReplyDelete

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