Cadiz to Rock Creek

Today Loretta and I decided to head out to Cadiz and try to ride to Rock Creek again. On our last attempt, her dog Rebel somehow managed to dislocate his shoulder and we had to get him back to the horse trailer. This was going to be and out and back ride on the same trail. Normally not my favorite thing to do but this ride turned out well worth it.

Loretta really wanted to see if she could locate the Indian War Chief rock in Rock Creek so I could see it. The hunt was on. Loretta did find it. I sure would never have found it as you can't see it from the trail. We had a really fun ride and rode 16.71 miles today.

Just a random stop sign out in the woods. 

Indian War Chief Rock

Rough Day for Rebel

Today Loretta was going to take me somewhere new. She picked me and Lily up and we parked at Camp Cadiz. Our plan was to ride to Rock Creek and this would be new trails to me. I still can't lift Lily's saddle up onto her back. I continue to have to use my 3 step mounting block so I don't have to lift. And I have to hold the reins most of the time in my left hand. As long as I do that though, it's no problem riding thankfully. I do have to keep the rides to walking. Any faster that causes bouncing and that hurts my shoulder. So, walking it is.

It didn't take long for us to get into some pretty bluffs and find a little waterfall. At about 2 miles out, we heard one of the dogs cry out in pain. And then saw Rebel coming towards us and he was limping on one of his front legs. Loretta quickly got off her horse to see what was wrong with Rebel and there was nothing visible that could be seen. But, he was in obvious pain. We decided we'd better head back to the trailer. If he "walked it off" before we got there, we would just keep riding. Rebel did not walk it off and continued to limp. We got back to Camp Cadiz and discussed what to do. We decided to leave Rebel at the trailer and continue riding. We set him up in the horse trailer with water and a nice place to lay down.

After a little discussion on where to go now, we decided we didn't want to go back the way we'd started out and repeat the same 2 miles of trail so decided instead to ride to my house from Cadiz. I could then take Loretta back in my car to get her trailer. We had a very nice ride back to my house. Once there, we put Loretta's horse Chance in Lily's stall with hay and water to keep him happy while we went to get her trailer. Rebel was happy to see us. Some campers at Cadiz said he'd been quiet while we were gone and had made no fuss. We went back to my house and Loretta picked up Chance and headed home. She called her vet as she was really worried about Rebel. The vet told her to meet her at the vet clinic on her way home from my house. It was such a good thing her vet was able to do this for her as it turned out Rebel had dislocated his shoulder. The vet was able to put it back in place and Rebel should be fine with a little rest.

This is the I don't want to stand still and pose series of pictures. Unless offered a treat of course. 

Solo Ride from Home

So, I got the bright idea to ride alone today. Well, that would have been fine but..... I got Lily and tied her to the trailer and did my awkward left handed grooming job. Then, I thought surly I could get her saddle on if I was standing on my 3 step mounting block. From there I wouldn't really have to lift up, just lift it over onto her back. I got the mounting block and set it in place next to Lily, I got my left arm under the saddle to hold all the weight and just held the back of the cantle to steady it, climbed up on the block and made my move. I started to reach forward with the saddle and very quickly realized I couldn't do it, nor could I stop as now I was off balance and I slammed that saddle right into Lily's side and was leaning up against her. Bless that mule's heart she never moved an inch. Just stood there like a rock. If she had moved, I'd have fallen off the mounting block onto my face! I did manage to shimmy the saddle up her side and onto her back with my left arm but again, only because she stood still and tolerated it. GOOD MULE! No more saddling on my own for a while.

Mounting is ok as long as I'm standing on something. Dismounting is what hurts for some reason. So, I'm avoiding any unnecessary dismounts right now. Lily was very good today and we had a nice relaxing ride of about 9 miles. I went out to Initial Tree than over to Double M by way of the Wagon trail and then home on Trail 184.