I had an opportunity to go on a trail ride with the trail buddy and her friend to the Hunt Club again.  This would be the same ladies that Hillary and I rode with when she visited.

Not this type of hunt club.

This type.

It was a new experience for me to be in the very back of the pack, on the slowest horse.  Beefcake initially didn't want to canter and was fine with an extended trot.  He has a definite motor but has to be encouraged to use it and did require a few walking breaks.  I can't tell you the last time that I rode that fast for that long (..maybe it was this?) and it was definitely a stupid idea to work legs afterwards at the gym.




There was one point where we were behind a bit and then trail buddy asked her friend, in the lead on a gaited horse, to kick it up a notch.  I got into a gallop position and asked Ox to give me more.

And this is where being on a Thoroughbred has ruined me.  There is always another gear and more gas in the tank.  Asking a TB to gallop is inviting a rocket to launch between your legs.

Because.. Ox said,"Really?  More?  Are you sure?  Well.. how's this?  You want more than this?  Lady, this is a nice, field-safe fast lope.  You don't want more than this."  And I assured him that I did and he gave me a little more oompf and we finally caught up with everyone else.. as they were transitioning back to a walk.  :|


According to Endomodo, which I use to track my rides on Ox, we completed 6.87 miles in 1:25:44.  Our average speed was 4.8 mph (compared to Archie's ~3 mph walk) with a max speed of 16.2 mph.  So, I'm not really exaggerating the Big Orange Booty's slow galloping pace, haha.

Evil eye for the gaited mare.