First Ride of 2019

I really wanted to go for at least a short ride on the 1st. You know, to start the year our right. But, it was just such a miserable day I couldn't make myself do it. Then, work the rest of the week so today was my first chance to ride. And, a beautiful day it is. Sunny and in the 50's. My kind of January day for sure! I didn't get up all that early so didn't get as early a start as I had planned but I eventually go moving and headed to the barn around 10:30. It was such a nice day I decided to walk over to the barn. As I was passing Sally's barn, I saw Chi Chi tied in the barn aisle all saddled up. So, I walked in just as Sally was coming out of her tack room. I asked if she would mind some company and she said she would be happy to have company. So, I hustled over to the barn. I had visions of my usual mud covered mule. Especially since it rained all day yesterday. But, much to my surprise and delight, Lily was not actually all that dirty.

Lily came right up to the barn when I called her and stuck her head in her halter as usual. I quickly groomed her and saddled her up. She stood quietly to be saddled. As soon as I led her out of the barn though, I could tell she was going to be a little keyed up. I rode over to Sally's and she was just mounting up. We headed back to Del's and took the steep trail behind the barn. I had gotten off Lily to tie my jacket onto the back of the saddle so I just led her down the hill. Lily did not want to go down the hill. We've had some progress with this issue but it's still a bit of an issue. I mounted up at the bottom of the hill and we were off. Tippy was with Sally as usual. But, his two pups were with us also. One of them was quite reluctant to follow us and didn't go far before turning back and going home. The other pup did stay with us. Sally was moving right along out in front and Lily was pretty excited but behaving. When we rounded the corner of the big pasture and headed up the trail towards Black's Cabin, Sally took off at a gallop. Lily, of course, wanted to follow. I did not let her take off after Sally and that did not make happy. She fussed a bit but I was able to hold her and settle her into a controlled trot.

Once we met up at at the cabin, I took the lead and headed out Black's Cabin Rd. We took trail 184 to 185 and rode out to Initial Tree. We met up with a hiker where you cross the stream  multiple times, going into Initial Tree. We chatted with him for a minute then headed across the stream. The pup would NOT cross the water. Sally had to get off Chi Chi and catch her. I got off and took the pup while Sally mounted  back up and I handed the pup over to her. She carried the pup in the saddle over the stream crossings.

After leaving Initial Tree, we took trail 150 and rode up to the top of a hill and stopped for lunch. From there we rode by the Memorial and back to 185. We cut up over the hill to Thacker Hollow Cemetery. There is a tree down on that trail and to get around it, you have to drop steeply down into a ditch and immediately climb/jump up and steep bank out of the ditch. Lily dropped into the ditch and jumped up the far side. As she came over the top she kicked out a little and turned sideways. I was not sure what that was all about. We came to a second downed tree we had to go around and had to once again jump up a short, steep bank. When Lily came up over the top of that one, she kicked/bucked up hard with both hind feet throwing me forward in the saddle. I have no idea what caused either kicks/bucks and I'm sure there was a cause as she's never done that before. I spun her in a few circles telling her to quit. On about the 2nd turn I spotted something black and shiny on the ground. I stopped and there was my phone laying in the leaves. Lily had bucked my phone right out of my pocket! (which I though I'd zipped....) Thank goodness I saw it. I hopped off, retrieved my phone and made sure my pocket was zipped. Lily was fine the rest of the way home. And, by the end of the ride, the puppy had learned to cross streams on her own.