Linda and Gus getting ready to ride
We had a beautiful weekend but I didn't get Louie out as he had no shoes and really needed them. My farrier came Sunday afternoon so on Monday Louie was ready to go. I decided to take the night off work so we could go for as long as we wanted. This particular ride brought back some mixed feelings. This was the ride where Louie went so lame a year ago and all the trouble began. And several years before I had walked home on this same ride with a lame Emma Jane, my first mule.
Cindy on Louie and Linda on Gus
Today was yet another fabulous day. Sunny and and near 70. Though the black flies are now out. Boo hiss! I met Susie and Linda at the Bowdoin Center Store and followed them to Pownal. Louie loaded very well. Once there, he was quiet and relaxed while I tacked him up even though he was alone at my trailer. Today's ride was on a lot of dirt roads. So, we could really move right along. Louie still falls behind a bit at the trot on hills but each ride he gets better and stronger. And he is trying to keep up with well conditioned Arab cross horses. He's right there with both is walk and canter and will often get right out in the lead at the walk. I'm just amazed with each ride with Louie's progress. He is starting to get fit now. And while he still needs work at the trot, he's improving with each ride.
We had a few short sections on a busy main road to ride. We had a few tractor trailers and large dump trucks go by and Louie was not bothered by that at all. Actually, the only thing he spooked at was a pine tree branch laying in the middle of a trail! Silly mule. We had to cross one scary mule eating ditch. This still scares Louie. But, he doesn't say "no", he just says "I'm scared but I want to do this for you". He is full of try and he did great. We did about 15 miles today in a little under 3 hours. Louie is really starting to get fit and at the end of our ride there was plenty of mule left and he could have done much more. Susie did a mock vetting on him for practice. Not a problem. He is just so friendly and doesn't care what you do to him. You can poke, prod and pinch all you want and he just thinks you are playing with him. And when we get to a competition, the P&R people are going to love Louie, it is SOOOO easy to get his pulse. It is so strong and loud! Susie took the pulse on all 3 equines about 15 min. after we got back and Louie's pulse was the lowest.
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